Information Economics with Real Estate Applications

Information Economics with Real Estate Applications provides the reader with an academic toolkit to understand strategic interactions of individuals and companies in a world of scarce resources and asymmetric information. Beyond theoretical frameworks and models, examples in the real estate and construction industry are used to illustrate the practical relevance of the concepts discussed. Property developers, brokers, construction firms and investment managers – as individuals or companies – make decisions in response to their clients’, customers’ and partners’ behaviours. To align conflicting interests and achieve optimal outcomes for individuals, companies and society at large, those interactions need to be governed efficiently. Using models from microeconomics and contract theory, this book helps the reader to analyse the complex relations between different industry stakeholders from the perspective of markets and organisations. Although it mainly targets students at the Masters or PhD level in real estate or similar subjects without previous knowledge in information economics, the general theory presented should be of interest to any student who wants an introductory text in information economics. At the same time, by building upon real-world examples, the book allows industry practitioners to reflect on and optimise their strategic decision-making in a more structured way.

Preface xiii Acknowledgements xvii Contributors xix I Foundations 1 Basic microeconomics 2 Game theory II Market perspective 3 Oligopolies 4 Strategic interactions III Organizational perspective 5 Models with randomness 6 Contracts 7 Hidden characteristics and adverse selection 8 Hidden actions and moral hazard 9 Property rights A Additional material Bibliography Index

Fredrik Armerin has a PhD in Mathematical Statistics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and a licentiate degree in Real Estate and Construction Management, also from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. Madeleine Hoeft is a commercial asset manager in a global real estate investment firm in Frankfurt, Germany. She has an academic background in Real Estate and Construction Management (MSc) from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore and Stanford University, and has gained professional experience in the field of property and asset management, transaction advisory and construction project management.