Paul Pezanis-Christou

Associate Professor Paul Pezanis-Christou

Associate Professor

School of Economics and Public Policy

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Paul joined the School in November 2012 and previously held positions at the Institute of Economic Analysis (CSIC, Barcelona), the University of Strasbourg and the University of New South Wales.

Research Interests

I am working in the fields of behavioural and experimental economics, applied game theory and industrial organisation with a focus on auction markets and market design issues. My research deals with the theoretical modelling and the experimental assessment of behaviour in:

  • Single- and multi-unit auctions such as auctions for perishables, Treasury bonds, telecommunication licenses, real estate, oil fields, artwork, etc. I am particularly interested in understanding how people bid in such auctions, how can sellers improve their revenues, how to ensure an efficient allocation of goods, what type of information do buyers have about each other or about the commodities that are ‘on the block’ and how does it affect their behaviour, the formation of prices and/or the seller’s revenue.
  • Congestion games such as ‘market-entry’ games and the ‘El Farol’ bar problem.
  • Oligopoly markets such as the market for electricity, the effects of forward contracting and the conditions under which collusive-type of behaviours are likely to be observed.
  • Groups such as firms which may have a vertical or a horizontal organisational structure, and how their structure affects ethical behaviour.
  • Alternating-offer bargaining type of situations and takeover games.
  • Unspecified environments which call for a trade-off between the exploration and the exploitation of possible alternatives and pattern-learning.
  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2004 - 2010 Associate Professor University of Strasbourg
    2000 - 2004 Research Officer Consejo Superior de Inverstigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)
    1999 - 2000 Fellow of the EU ENDEAR Program Pompeu Fabra University
    1998 - 1999 Fellow of the EU ENDEAR Program University of Bonn
    1995 - 1998 Lecturer University of New South Wales
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2010 Award Excellence in Refereeing Award American Economic Review United States -
    2009 Research Award Prime d’Excellence Scientifique Conseil National des Universites France -
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    University of Strasbourg France Habilitation
    European University Institute Italy PhD in Economics
    Aix-Marseille University (GREQAM) France Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies (Economie Mathematique et Econometrie)
    Aix-Marseille University France Magistère Ingénieur-Economiste
  • Research Interests

Research Funding

2014: ARC Discovery Project Grant: "Information quality in auctions of multiple objects" (DP140102949, joint with CI Prof. Ralph Bayer)

Since 2013, I have taught:

  • Economic Principles (Master)
  • Advanced Economic Analysis II (2nd year)
  • Managerial Economics II (2nd year & Master) 
  • Industrial Organization III (3rd year & Master)
  • Microeconomic Theory IV and V (Honours, Master and MPhil)
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Price Setting Rules and Competition Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Mia Katina Tam
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Bidding Behaviour and Efficiency in First-Price Sealed-Bid Auctions with Unknown Value Distributions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rui Zhang
    2014 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Three Essays on Unethical Behaviour and Deterrence Mechanisms in Contests Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Qin Wu
    2013 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Three essays on first-price auctions with independent private values Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ye Han
    2012 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Three Essays on Experimental Economics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sookie Zhang

Connect With Me
External Profiles