An Economics Professor Is Running an Experiment in Class, Simulating

question 26

Essay

An economics professor is running an experiment in class, simulating auctions. Each student is told that the amount of money she has to spend is equal to 100 minus the last two digits of her social security number. The professor is auctioning off fictitious products. After the experiment is run, the professor is perplexed by the results, since they do not match that predicted by theory. Help the professor understand the results obtained from the experiment.

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Definitions:

Duress

A situation where a person performs an act as a result of violence, threat, or other pressures against them.

Coercion

The act of compelling a party to act in an involuntary manner by use of threats or force.

Contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties that outlines obligations, rights, and terms that are enforceable by law.

Material Errors

Significant mistakes or inaccuracies that impact the understanding, operation, or outcome of a document, financial statement, or process.