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The Emergence of Market Structure

Author

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  • Maryam Farboodi
  • Gregor Jarosch
  • Robert Shimer

Abstract

We study a model of over-the-counter trading in which ex ante identical traders invest in a contact technology and participate in bilateral trade. We show that a rich market structure emerges both in equilibrium and in an optimal allocation. There is continuous heterogeneity in market access under weak regularity conditions. If the cost per contact is constant, heterogeneity is governed by a power law and there are middlemen, market participants with unboundedly high contact rates who account for a positive fraction of meetings. Externalities lead to overinvestment in equilibrium, and policies that reduce investment in the contact technology can improve welfare. We relate our findings to important features of real-world trading networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Farboodi & Gregor Jarosch & Robert Shimer, 2023. "The Emergence of Market Structure," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(1), pages 261-292.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:90:y:2023:i:1:p:261-292.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/restud/rdac014
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    Cited by:

    1. Erol, Selman & Vohra, Rakesh, 2022. "Network formation and systemic risk," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    2. Jérôme Dugast & Semih Uslu & Pierre-Olivier Weil, 2018. "Platform Trading with an OTC Market Fringe," Post-Print hal-02104107, HAL.
    3. Zachary Bethune & Bruno Sultanum & Nicholas Trachter, 2019. "Asset Issuance in Over-the-Counter Markets," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 33, pages 4-29, July.
    4. Zachary Bethune & Bruno Sultanum & Nicholas Trachter, 2022. "An Information-based Theory of Financial Intermediation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(5), pages 2381-2444.
    5. Balasubramaniam, Swaminathan & Gomes, Armando & Lee, SangMok, 2024. "Mergers and acquisitions with private equity intermediation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    6. Gabrovski, Miroslav & Kospentaris, Ioannis, 2021. "Intermediation in over-the-counter markets with price transparency," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Jean-Edouard Colliard & Thierry Foucault & Peter Hoffmann, 2018. "Inventory Management, Dealers' Connections, and Prices in OTC Markets," Working Papers hal-01933855, HAL.
    8. Swaminathan Balasubramaniam & Armando Gomes & SangMok Lee, 2019. "Mergers and Acquisitions with Private Equity Intermediation," 2019 Meeting Papers 1121, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    9. Alfaro, Laura & Faia, Ester & Lamersdorf, Nora & Saidi, Farzad, 2024. "Altruism, social interactions, and the course of a pandemic," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Lucas Dyskant & Andre C. Siva & Bruno Sultanum, 2025. "Trading choices," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp675, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    11. Schultz, Paul & Song, Zhaogang, 2019. "Transparency and dealer networks: Evidence from the initiation of post-trade reporting in the mortgage backed security market," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(1), pages 113-133.
    12. Liu, Shuo, 2024. "Search friction, liquidity risk, and bond misallocation," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    13. Farboodi, Maryam & Jarosch, Gregor & Menzio, Guido & Wiriadinata, Ursula, 2025. "Intermediation as rent extraction," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    14. Alastair Langtry, 2025. "More connection, less community: network formation and local public goods provision," Papers 2504.06872, arXiv.org.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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