Tim Sullivan, co-author of 'The Inner Lives of Markets,' discusses the evolution of economics and the shift from general theories to understanding human interaction. They delve into auction theory and efficient allocation, and the impact of data-driven economics on individual privacy. The importance of understanding underlying ideas and having effective conversations is emphasized.
Efficiency in our economy has become a dominant principle, but it often overlooks other important values we may prioritize.
The market for lemons showcases the challenges of resolving informational asymmetry in markets and the importance of efficient resource allocation.
Deep dives
The Idea for 'The Inner Lives of Markets' Book
The authors, Tim Sullivan and Ray Fissman, got the idea for 'The Inner Lives of Markets' book around 10 years ago when Tim came across a book on 20th-century physics discoveries. He thought it would be interesting to do the same with economics and started compiling a list of the most important papers in economics. They realized it was not just about the ideas but also about how those ideas have transformed the real world.
Efficiency as a Dominant Principle
Efficiency has become a dominant principle in our current economy, but it has been taken as an end rather than a means towards something. While efficiency can reduce costs and make things more cheaply available, it leaves out other values that we may prioritize. The authors explore how markets have shifted from descriptive science to better understanding how the world works and changing how it functions. They discuss the impact of focusing on pure efficiency and how it can affect human behavior and values.
The Market for Lemons and Auction Theory
The authors delve into the market for lemons, referring to the problem of asymmetric information in the used car market. They discuss how buyers undervalue goods when they can't distinguish between high-quality and low-quality options. They highlight the work of economists like George Akerlof and Michael Spence, who explored the challenges of resolving informational asymmetry in markets. They also touch on auction theory and its impact on efficient allocation in markets, including the use of algorithms for matching resources to those in need.