Economics 40701 -- University of Chicago -- Winter 2012

Description:

This course is a reading seminar on current research in the theory of market design. Recent papers will be discussed alongside their classical antecedents. The course will focus almost entirely on papers presenting novel market design problems and techniques. In addition to technical content, class discussion will pay special attention to issues of problem identification and formulation, so as to understand what comprises "interesting" work in market design.

Most papers under consideration will be theoretical, although some empirical/engineering work will be discussed. Topics will include matching with contracts, matching with regional caps, cadet--branch matching, large-scale kidney exchange, random assignment, land assembly, and markets for private data.

This course complements Economics 40603.

For information on Logistics and Requirements:

See the course syllabus (posted October 14, 2011; revised February 25, 2012).

To Make an Office Hours Appointment:

Use the Office Hours Calendar.

Assignment Deadlines:

Short Idea Proposals are due on February 11, March 3, and March 17.
Long Idea Proposals are due on March 17.

Schedule:

Date	Topic	Discussion Leader(s)
January 6, 2012	[Market Design ASSA Meeting Sessions]	[Follow @skominers for Information]
January 13, 2012	Introduction/Overview	Scott Duke Kominers [Instructor]
January 20, 2012	Matching with Regional Caps	Xan Vongsathorn
January 27, 2012	Cadet--Branch Matching	Hanzhe Zhang/Sam Hwang
February 3, 2012	Substitutability and the Kelso-Crawford Legacy	Scott Duke Kominers [Instructor]
February 10, 2012	Random Allocation Mechanisms	Hanzhe Zhang/Sam Hwang
February 17, 2012	Signaling in Matching Markets	Ignacia Mercadal
February 24, 2012	Markets for Private Data	Naiqing Gu
February 26, 2012	Large-Scale Kidney Exchange	Ben Galick
March 2, 2012	Financial Intermediation in Networks	Itay Fainmesser [Special Guest]
March 5, 2012	"Hidden" Market Design	Jose Viteri
March 9, 2012	Market Design through History Large Markets	Matt Schiffman Seth Blumberg