Estimating Valuations in Auctions with an Uncertain Number of Bidders
I propose techniques for estimating value distributions for auctions with an uncertain number of bidders and test those techniques on auctions conducted in the lab. I estimate Bayes-Nash models with risk neutrality and risk aversion, a learning model, the Quantal Response Equilibrium model, and a modification of the Quantal Response Equilibrium model that rules out obvious mistakes. I also use simulations to show that my methods work well