What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Economics of Over- the-Counter Markets’

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Updated 17 April 2026
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Economics of Over- the-Counter Markets’

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  • Understanding how these markets work has become increasingly important in recent years, as illiquidity in certain OTC markets has appeared as the first signs of trouble—if not the cause itself—of the past two financial crises

Authors: JULIEN HUGONNIER, BENJAMIN LESTER

Many of the largest financial markets in the world do not organize trade through an exchange but rather operate within a decentralized or over-the-counter structure.

Understanding how these markets work has become increasingly important in recent years, as illiquidity in certain OTC markets has appeared as the first signs of trouble—if not the cause itself—of the past two financial crises.