Prediction Markets in Theory and Practice

Justin Wolfers and Eric Zitzewitz

No 1991, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Prediction Markets, sometimes referred to as "information markets", "idea futures" or "event futures", are markets where participants trade contracts whose payoffs are tied to a future event, thereby yielding prices that can be interpreted as market-aggregated forecasts. This article summarizes the recent literature on prediction markets, highlighting both theoretical contributions that emphasize the possibility that these markets efficiently aggregate disperse information, and the lessons from empirical applications which show that market-generated forecasts typically outperform most moderately sophisticated benchmarks. Along the way, we highlight areas ripe for future research.

Keywords: information aggregation; information markets; prediction markets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C53 D8 G14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2006-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-fin, nep-fmk, nep-for, nep-mic and nep-mkt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

Published - published in: Larry Blume and Steven Durlauf (eds), The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd ed (London: Palgrave), 2007

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Related works:
Working Paper: Prediction Markets in Theory and Practice (2006)
Working Paper: Prediction Markets in Theory and Practice (2006)
Working Paper: Prediction Markets in Theory and Practice (2006)
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