Bayesian Persuasion Mediating Cheap Talk

11 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2020 Last revised: 16 May 2022

Date Written: September 25, 2020

Abstract

We examine a model of sequential communication with a receiver acting upon two sources of information. One is a cheap-talk sender who initially obtains information but reveals it imprecisely. The other is a mediator who expands on the revealed information using Bayesian persuasion. We prove that Bayesian persuasion makes the preceding cheap talk more informative if the sender benefits from the receiver's action. This result holds for any sender's utility function with a unique maximum. We also define a condition for collusion between the sender and the mediator, as well as characterise the cheap-talk partition for both direct and mediated cases. The model and results are then illustrated with a trade deal on an item appraised by a third party.

Keywords: Cheap talk, Bayesian persuasion, mediation

JEL Classification: C72, D82, D83

Suggested Citation

Sagiev, Erkin, Bayesian Persuasion Mediating Cheap Talk (September 25, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3699672 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3699672

Erkin Sagiev (Contact Author)

University College London ( email )

Gower Street
London, WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom

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