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Immediate Disclosure or Secrecy? The Release of Information in Experimental Asset Markets

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  • Lucy F. Ackert
  • Bryan, K. Church
  • Ann B Gillette

Abstract

This paper reports the results of experimental asset markets designed to investigate how the public disclosure of uncertain information affects market and individual outcomes. In some markets, no information is released as trading starts, and in others, an imperfect pre‐announcement is disclosed. The reliability of the pre‐announcement varies across markets. Our data indicate under‐reaction to a pre‐announcement that is highly reliable and over‐reaction to one with much lower reliability. Price volatility is higher and allocational efficiency is lower with a pre‐announcement that reflects substantial uncertainty. Furthermore, when the reliability of the pre‐announcement is low, traders extract a smaller proportion of the total attainable profit. Thus, in a highly uncertain environment better outcomes may result when information is withheld. These results have important policy implications regarding the disclosure of information by the Federal Reserve. In a highly uncertain environment, better outcomes may actually result with less information.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucy F. Ackert & Bryan, K. Church & Ann B Gillette, 2004. "Immediate Disclosure or Secrecy? The Release of Information in Experimental Asset Markets," Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(5), pages 219-243, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:finmar:v:13:y:2004:i:5:p:219-243
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0963-8008.2004.00077.x
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    1. Plott, Charles R & Sunder, Shyam, 1982. "Efficiency of Experimental Security Markets with Insider Information: An Application of Rational-Expectations Models," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 90(4), pages 663-698, August.
    2. Ackert, Lucy F. & Church, Bryan K., 1998. "Information dissemination and the distribution of wealth: Evidence from experimental asset markets," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 357-371, November.
    3. Copeland, Thomas E & Friedman, Daniel, 1987. "The Effect of Sequential Information Arrival on Asset Prices: An Experimental Study," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 42(3), pages 763-797, July.
    4. Ackert, Lucy F. & Church, Bryan K. & Shehata, Mohamed, 1997. "Market behavior in the presence of costly, imperfect information: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 61-74, May.
    5. Cason, Timothy N. & Friedman, Daniel, 1996. "Price formation in double auction markets," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 20(8), pages 1307-1337, August.
    6. Ireland, Peter N, 2000. "Interest Rates, Inflation, and Federal Reserve Policy since 1980," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 32(3), pages 417-434, August.
    7. Ann B. Gillette & Douglas E. Stevens & Susan G. Watts & Arlington W. Williams, 1999. "Price and Volume Reactions to Public Information Releases: An Experimental Approach Incorporating Traders' Subjective Beliefs," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 437-479, September.
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