LICENSE AUCTIONS WHEN WINNING BIDS ARE FINANCED THROUGH DEBT

Warning: is_dir(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/libraries) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/web1050:/usr/share/php) in libraries_get_libraries() (line 176 of /home/web1050/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/libraries/libraries.module).

We study an auction where two licenses to operate on a new market are sold and winning bidders finance their bids on the debt market. Higher bids imply higher debts which affects product market competition. When debt induces firms to compete more aggressively, retail prices are lower than in a model without debt, as are auction revenues. When debt induces firms to compete less aggressively, retail prices are higher than in a model without debt, and the effect on auction revenues is ambiguous. Net firm profits are always higher than in a model without debt due to endogenous credit rationing.