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Journal of Finance Vol. 39 No. 4 1984

Futures Markets and Informational Efficiency: A Laboratory Examination

Robert Forsythe; Thomas R. Palfrey; Charles R. Plott

Economic and Law Institute in Moscow

Abstract

Through the use of laboratory market methodology, the effect of a futures market on the time path of asset prices is studied and competing models of asset pricing are analyzed. With replication of market conditions, the predictions of a rational expectations equilibrium model are relatively accurate whether or not futures markets are present. However, the presence of futures markets increases the speed with which an efficient equilibrium is achieved. While this more rapid adjustment can increase the variance of spot market prices as they move to equilibrium, this increased variance reflects efficiency gains due to better information.

DOI
10.1111/j.1540-6261.1984.tb03887.x
Volume
39
Issue
4
Pages
955-981
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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