Saturday, October 20, 2012

Akerloff on Efficient Markets Hypothesis



I particularly like his comments (@13 min or so) on Snake Oil and financial assets. When market participants are exuberant (overly confident) it is natural for firms to create and market new assets that are overpriced relative to actual value, or have dangerous risk-return tradeoffs. For the latest example, in natural gas drilling rights during the recent boom (now a bust), see here.

See also Venn diagram for economics.

The cover illustration of Akerloff and Shiller's book. Are there any economists outside of Chicago who still don't believe in "animal spirits"?


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