Most economists take it for granted that a price mechanism is usually the most effective means of resource allocation. This paper compares two methods of allocating resources in the thoroughbred racing market: a price mechanism and bureaucratic restrictions. It is shown that a simple price...

Most economists take it for granted that a price mechanism is usually the most effective means of resource allocation. This paper compares two methods of allocating resources in the thoroughbred racing market: a price mechanism and bureaucratic restrictions. It is shown that a simple price...

The rate of return to investment in thoroughbred racehorses is widely believed to be negative on average. In a world of fully informed market participants, this implies that ownership of a racehorse is motivated in part by nonfinancial attributes, perhaps a taste for sport. This article presents...