The Hayek Hypothesis in Experimental Auctions: Institutional Effects and Market Power.

The authors report twelve market experiments utilizing a "seller market power" supply and demand structure where two of five sellers can unilaterally increase their profit by withholding supply. The data indicate that both the double auction and posted offer institutions result in traders extracting the bulk of the potential gains from exchange in the market; however, prices generally occur about the competitive equilibrium prediction. Market power, in the form of strategic supply withholding, does not appear to be responsible for the supracompetitive prices. Copyright 1991 by Oxford University Press.