Historical Political Futures Markets: An International Perspective / Paul W. Rhode, Koleman Strumpf.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rhode, Paul W.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Strumpf, Koleman.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w14377.

NBER working paper series no. w14377

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Historical Political Futures Markets

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2008.

Summary:

Political future markets, in which investors bet on election outcomes, are often thought a recent invention. Such markets in fact have a long history in many Western countries. This paper traces the operation of political futures markets back to 16th Century Italy, 18th Century Britain, and 19th Century United States. In the United States, election betting was a common part of political campaigns in the antebellum period, but became increasingly concentrated in the organized futures markets in New York City over the postbellum period.

Notes:

Print version record

October 2008.