Implementation Details for Frequent Batch Auctions: Slowing Down Markets to the Blink of an Eye

Coauthors: Peter Cramton and John Shim
American Economic Review: Papers & Proceedings, (2014): 104, no. 5, 418-424. [PDF]
Our recent research (Budish, Cramton, and Shim 2013) proposes frequent batch auctions—uniform-price sealed-bid double auctions conducted at frequent but discrete time intervals—as a market design alternative to continuous-time trading in financial markets. This short paper discusses the implementation details of frequent batch auctions. We outline the process flow for frequent batch auctions, discuss a modification to the market design that accommodates market fragmentation and Reg NMS, and discuss the engineering and economic considerations relevant for determining the batch interval. Open questions are discussed throughout.