Background
A contingent market refers to a market where a *contingent commodity can be traded. These commodities are contingent on certain events or outcomes that are not guaranteed.
Historical Context
The concept of contingent markets has roots in discussions around decision theory and risk management. These markets are essential for analyzing and managing uncertainty, especially in rapidly changing sectors like technology and finance.
Definitions and Concepts
Contingent Commodity
A contingent commodity is an asset or good whose value is dependent on certain conditions or events occurring in the future. Due to their speculative nature, these commodities are often complex to trade.
Major Analytical Frameworks
Classical Economics
Classical economics tends to ignore markets for contingent commodities, focusing instead on more predictable and well-established markets.
Neoclassical Economics
Neoclassical Economics recognizes contingent markets in the framework of general equilibrium where rational agents make trading decisions based on expectations of future states.
Keynesian Economics
In Keynesian models, contingent markets are less emphasized due to the focus on aggregate demand and economic policies affecting real-time trade.
Marxian Economics
From a Marxian perspective, contingent markets are considered part of capitalist speculation and can lead to uneven distributions of wealth.
Institutional Economics
Institutional economics might highlight the role that institutions play in establishing and maintaining contingent markets, ensuring transparency and legality in contingent trades.
Behavioral Economics
Behavioral economics may question the rationality assumptions underlying contingent markets, examining how cognitive biases affect trading behaviors.
Post-Keynesian Economics
Post-Keynesian Economics could be more skeptical of contingent markets’ efficiency due to the inherent uncertainty and irrational expectations of market participants.
Austrian Economics
Austrian economics often doubts the feasibility of efficient functioning contingent markets, given their complexity and the inability to predict future market conditions accurately.
Development Economics
In a developmental context, contingent markets are often seen as more prevalent in advanced economies where there is more information and resources to manage speculative trades.
Monetarism
Monetarists are generally more interested in the role of money supply and may see contingent markets as a secondary interest or a market phenomenon that needs careful regulation.
Comparative Analysis
Contingent markets vary significantly by the level of economic development, technological advancements, and regulatory environments in different countries. While contingent markets may thrive in financially sophisticated regions, they can be almost non-existent in areas lacking the required information infrastructure.
Case Studies
- Weather Derivatives Market: A practical example of a contingent market where commodities related to weather conditions are traded.
- Credit Default Swaps: Derivatives ensuring against creditors’ default incidents forming another contingent market.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Derivative Markets” by Robert L. McDonald
- “Risk and Uncertainty in Aid Policy”: Opportunities and Challenges by Christian Rogg, discusses contingent markets in the sphere of international aid.
Related Terms with Definitions
- Derivative: A financial security whose value is reliant upon or derived from an underlying asset or group of assets.
- Hedge: An investment made to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in an asset.
- Speculation: High-risk financial transactions in an attempt to profit from short or medium-term movements by large exposures to price changes.
