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Determining the optimal length of regulatory guarantee: a length-of-contract auction


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Greve, Thomas 
Pollitt, Michael G 

Abstract

We present an auction design to be used in the area of procurement that allows the length of the regulatory funding period to be determined via an auction. It allows bidders to submit bids against a payment for periods of varying lengths, say 25 and 30 years, instead of a fixed 20-year contract. This can be desirable for securing more favourable terms in financial markets. It yields efficiency and delivers the optimal length of contract, defined as where social value is maximised. The auction is applicable to any infrastructure investment such as energy, transportation or any area that uses contracts.

Description

Keywords

38 Economics, 3801 Applied Economics, 3802 Econometrics, 3803 Economic Theory, 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Journal Title

The Economic Journal

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0013-0133
1468-0297

Volume Title

127

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/I031650/1)
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the EPSRC Autonomic Power System project (grant number EP/I031650/1)