Transition dynamics in equilibrium search

Abstract

We study a dynamic equilibrium search model where sellers differ in their urgency to liquidate an asset. Buyers strategically make price offers without knowing a given seller’s urgency. We study liquidity and price dynamics on the transition path after an unexpected shock. Generically, the transition includes a phase where all buyers offer the same price, causing a market collapse; however, price dispersion resumes in finite time, leading to a recovery where both types make sales. We show that prices and liquidity can overshoot before converging to the steady state. When relaxed sellers randomly become desperate, dampening oscillations can occur.