Document Type
Discussion Paper
Publication Date
7-1-2014
CFDP Number
1953R3
CFDP Revision Date
2015-05-01
CFDP Pages
47
Abstract
We characterize the revenue-maximizing mechanism for time separable allocation problems in continuous time. The willingness-to-pay of each agent is private information and changes over time. We derive the dynamic revenue-maximizing mechanism, analyze its qualitative structure and frequently derive its closed form solution. In the leading example of repeat sales of a good or service, we establish that commonly observed contract features such as at rates, free consumption units and two-part tariffs emerge as part of the optimal contract. We investigate in detail the environments in which the type of each agent follows an arithmetic or geometric Brownian motion or a mean-reverting process. We analyze the allocative distortions and show that depending on the nature of the private information the distortion might increase or decrease over time.
Recommended Citation
Bergemann, Dirk and Strack, Philipp, "Dynamic Revenue Maximization: A Continuous Time Approach" (2014). Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers. 2357.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cowles-discussion-paper-series/2357