TY - JOUR

T1 - Can position limits restrain ‘rogue’ trading?

AU - ap Gwilym, R.

AU - Ebrahim, M.S.

PY - 2013/3/1

Y1 - 2013/3/1

N2 - This paper studies the imposition of position limits on commodity futures from the perspective of curbing excessive speculation and thus manipulation. We present a simple general equilibrium model in a static rational expectations framework and agent heterogeneity to illustrate that excessive speculation serves to enrich other agents at the expense of the speculator. Position limits, on the contrary, are not only superfluous, but also counter-productive, as they exacerbate market power and lead to a deterioration in efficiency. Position limits not only reduce social welfare but also cannot restrain market manipulation.

AB - This paper studies the imposition of position limits on commodity futures from the perspective of curbing excessive speculation and thus manipulation. We present a simple general equilibrium model in a static rational expectations framework and agent heterogeneity to illustrate that excessive speculation serves to enrich other agents at the expense of the speculator. Position limits, on the contrary, are not only superfluous, but also counter-productive, as they exacerbate market power and lead to a deterioration in efficiency. Position limits not only reduce social welfare but also cannot restrain market manipulation.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.10.025

DO - 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.10.025

M3 - Article

VL - 37

SP - 824

EP - 836

JO - Journal of Banking and Finance

JF - Journal of Banking and Finance

SN - 0378-4266

IS - 3

ER -