I review the uses of economic theory in the initial design and later improvement of the "simultaneous ascending auction," which was developed initially for the sale of radio spectrum licenses in the United States. I analyze some capabilities and limitations of the auction, the roles of various...

A "core-selecting auction mechanism" is a direct mechanism for a multi-item allocation problem that selects a core allocation with respect to the bidders' reported values and the auctioneer's exogenously given preferences. For every profile of others' reports, a bidder has a best reply that is a...

Fifteen scholars on auctions and telecommunications regulation urge the FCC to cancel bids made in, or permit winning bidders to opt out of, the reauction of the NextWave licenses in Auction 35. For auctions to function efficiently, buyers and sellers must follow basic rules, including the rule...