The Microstructure of the Bond Market in the 20th Century

Bruno Biais and Richard Green

Review of Economic Dynamics, 2019, vol. 33, 250-271

Abstract: Bonds are traded in opaque and fragmented over-the-counter markets. Is there something special about bonds precluding transparent limit-order markets? Historical experience suggests this is not the case. Before WWII, there was an active market in corporate and municipal bonds on the NYSE. Activity dropped dramatically, in the late 1920s for municipals and in the mid 1940s for corporate, as trading migrated to the over-the-counter market. Average trading costs in municipal bonds on the NYSE were half as large in 1926-1927 as they are today over the counter. Trading costs in corporate bonds for small investors in the 1940s were as low or lower than they are now. The difference in transactions costs likely reflects the differences in market structures, since underlying technological changes have likely reduced costs of matching buyers and sellers. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Keywords: Bond markets; Corporate bonds; Municipal bonds; Limit order book; Liquidity; Bid ask spread (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G1 G2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2019.01.003

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