In this article, the topic of Multi-attribute auction will be addressed from different perspectives, with the purpose of exploring its implications, applications and relevance today. Its historical context, its possible impacts in various areas and its relevance in the current panorama will be analyzed in detail. Likewise, its possible future implications will be delved into and various points of view on Multi-attribute auction will be discussed. Through a journey through different approaches and opinions, the aim is to provide the reader with a comprehensive and detailed vision of this topic, with the aim of encouraging debate and reflection.
A multi-attribute auction is a type of auction in which the bids have multiple parts.[1][2] Multi-attribute auctions allow agents to sell and purchase goods and services, taking into account more attributes than just price (e.g. service time, tolerances, qualities, etc.).
The earliest research paper about a multi-attribute auction appeared in a 1993 paper by Yeon-Koo Che.[3] In 1997, they were discussed in the context of long-term electricity contracts.[4]
The structural elements of a bid are called designated attributes. Attributes may be verifiable, unverifiable, or auctioneer-provided.[5] If bids include a single quality, such as price, the auction is referred to as a single-attribute auction. Generally, bids are prices in English auctions, and confirmations in Dutch and Japanese auctions. In Brazilian auctions, they refer to the numbers of units being traded.
A scoring, or utility function, is essential for multi-attribute auctions, as it calculates a single number from multiple attributes, making bids that vary in multiple ways comparable.[4] This scoring function is announced by the auctioneer to the bidders before the start of the auction.[6]