Contractual Chains

IF 6.6 1区 经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS
Econometrica Pub Date : 2024-09-27 DOI:10.3982/ECTA19797
Joel Watson
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper develops a model of private bilateral contracting, in which an exogenous network determines the pairs of players who can communicate and contract with each other. After contracting, the players interact in an underlying game with globally verifiable productive actions and externally enforced transfers. The paper investigates whether such decentralized contracting can internalize externalities that arise due to parties being unable to contract directly with others whose productive actions affect their payoffs. The contract-formation protocol, called the “contracting institution,” is treated as a design element. The main result is positive: There is a contracting institution that supports efficient equilibria for any underlying game and connected network. A critical property is that the institution allows for sequential contract formation or revision. The equilibrium construction features assurance contracts and cancellation penalties.

Abstract Image

合同链
本文建立了一个私人双边契约模型,在这个模型中,一个外生网络决定了可以相互沟通和签订契约的玩家对。签约后,参与者在一个具有全球可验证的生产行动和外部强制转移的基础博弈中互动。本文研究了这种去中心化合约是否能将外部性内部化,外部性的产生是由于各方无法直接与其他生产行动会影响其收益的人签订合约。被称为 "缔约机构 "的缔约协议被视为一个设计要素。主要结果是积极的:对于任何基础博弈和连接网络,都存在一种支持高效均衡的契约制度。一个关键的特性是,该机构允许按顺序订立或修订合同。均衡构造的特点是保证合约和取消惩罚。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Econometrica
Econometrica 社会科学-数学跨学科应用
CiteScore
11.00
自引率
3.30%
发文量
75
审稿时长
6-12 weeks
期刊介绍: Econometrica publishes original articles in all branches of economics - theoretical and empirical, abstract and applied, providing wide-ranging coverage across the subject area. It promotes studies that aim at the unification of the theoretical-quantitative and the empirical-quantitative approach to economic problems and that are penetrated by constructive and rigorous thinking. It explores a unique range of topics each year - from the frontier of theoretical developments in many new and important areas, to research on current and applied economic problems, to methodologically innovative, theoretical and applied studies in econometrics. Econometrica maintains a long tradition that submitted articles are refereed carefully and that detailed and thoughtful referee reports are provided to the author as an aid to scientific research, thus ensuring the high calibre of papers found in Econometrica. An international board of editors, together with the referees it has selected, has succeeded in substantially reducing editorial turnaround time, thereby encouraging submissions of the highest quality. We strongly encourage recent Ph. D. graduates to submit their work to Econometrica. Our policy is to take into account the fact that recent graduates are less experienced in the process of writing and submitting papers.
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