Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-10-2020
Abstract
Using laboratory experiments, we illustrate that trading algorithms that prioritize low latency pose certain pitfalls in a variety of market structures and configurations. In hybrid double auctions markets with human traders and trading agents, we find superior performance of trading agents to human traders in balanced markets with the same number of human and Zero Intelligence Plus (ZIP) buyers and sellers only, thus providing a partial replication of Das et al. (2001). However, in unbalanced markets and extreme market structures, such as monopolies and duopolies, fast ZIP agents fall into a speed trap and both human participants and slow ZIP agents outperform fast ZIP agents. For human traders, faster reaction time significantly improves trading performance, while Theory of Mind can be detrimental for human buyers, but beneficial for human sellers.
Recommended Citation
Peng, Y., Shachat, J., Wei, L., & Zhang, S.S. (2020). Speed traps: Algorithmic trader performance under alternative market structures. ESI Working Paper 20-39. https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/334/
Comments
ESI Working Paper 20-39