"Auctions: Theory and Practice"

Inaugural (2003) Toulouse Lectures 
forthcoming, Princeton University Press, May 2004


Paul Klemperer
Nuffield College, Oxford University, UK
Int Tel: +44 1865 278588
e-mail: paul.klemperer@economics.ox.ac.uk

Abstract

  This book is a non-technical introduction to auction theory; its practical application in
auction design (including many examples); and its uses in other parts of economics. It can be
used for a graduate course on auction theory, or – by picking selectively – an advanced
undergraduate or MBA course on auctions and auction design.
  Part A introduces the basic theory. Part B shows how modern auction-theoretic tools illuminate
a range of mainstream economic questions that are superficially unconnected with auctions.
Part C discusses practical auction design. Part D describes the one-hundred-billion dollar
3G mobile-phone license auctions. None of the writing is technical, except in the Appendices.
  The material was presented as the inaugural (2003) Toulouse Lectures in Economics and is
forthcoming at Princeton University Press.
  This document contains the Contents, Preface and Introduction to the book. A draft of the
FULL BOOK is available at http://www.paulklemperer.org. 

Keywords: Auctions, Bidding, Auction Theory, Mechanism Design, Telecommunications,
Spectrum Auctions, 3G, UMTS
JEL No: D44 (auctions)