Holdout in the Assembly of Complements: A Problem for Market Design

5 Pages Posted: 14 Jan 2012

See all articles by Scott Duke Kominers

Scott Duke Kominers

Harvard University; a16z crypto

E. Glen Weyl

Plural Technology Collaboratory, Microsoft Research Special Projects; Plurality Institute; GETTING-Plurality Research Network

Date Written: January 13, 2012

Abstract

Holdout problems prevent private (voluntary and self-financing) assembly of complementary goods - such as land or dispersed spectrum - from many self-interested sellers. While mechanisms that fully respect sellers' property rights cannot alleviate these holdout problems, traditional solutions, such as the use of coercive government powers of "eminent domain" to expropriate property, can encourage wasteful and unfair assemblies.

We discuss the problems holdout creates for the efficient operation of markets and how previous approaches have used regulated coercion to address these challenges. We then investigate when encouraging competition can partially or fully substitute for coercion, focusing particularly on questions of spectrum allocation.

Keywords: holdout, public goods, complementary goods, spectrum allocation

JEL Classification: D40, D60, D71, H41, K11, L13

Suggested Citation

Kominers, Scott Duke and Weyl, Eric Glen, Holdout in the Assembly of Complements: A Problem for Market Design (January 13, 2012). American Economic Review, Vol. 102, No. 3, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1984887

Scott Duke Kominers

Harvard University ( email )

Rock Center
Harvard Business School
Boston, MA 02163
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.scottkom.com/

a16z crypto ( email )

Eric Glen Weyl (Contact Author)

Plural Technology Collaboratory, Microsoft Research Special Projects ( email )

11 Ellsworth Ave, #2
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States
8579984513 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.glenweyl.com

Plurality Institute ( email )

GETTING-Plurality Research Network ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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