Document Type
Discussion Paper
Publication Date
7-1-2012
CFDP Number
1868R
CFDP Revision Date
2015-03-01
CFDP Pages
32
Abstract
Attainment of rational expectations equilibria in asset markets calls for the price system to disseminate agents’ private information to others. Markets populated by human agents are known to be capable of converging to rational expectations equilibria. This paper reports comparable market outcomes when human agents are replaced by boundedly-rational algorithmic agents who use a simple means-end heuristic. These algorithmic agents lack the capability to optimize; yet outcomes of markets populated by them converge near the equilibrium derived from optimization assumptions. These findings point to market structure (rather than cognition or optimization) being an important determinant of efficient aggregate level outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Jamal, Karim; Maier, Michael; and Sunder, Shyam, "Simple Agents, Intelligent Markets" (2012). Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers. 2232.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cowles-discussion-paper-series/2232