In an absolute auction, who is prohibited from bidding on behalf of the seller?

In an absolute auction, the seller is prohibited from bidding on behalf of themselves because the defining feature of an absolute auction is that there is no minimum price; the item will be sold to the highest bidder regardless of the bidding amount. Allowing the seller to bid creates a conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of the auction process. The seller's intention is to sell the item, and their participation as a bidder can lead to potential manipulation of the bidding process, which could disadvantage genuine bidders.

By keeping the seller from bidding, the auction process remains transparent and competitive, ensuring that the item will reach its true market value through bidding from interested parties. Therefore, in the context of absolute auctions, this prohibition is crucial for maintaining fairness and trust among all participants.