Deterrence of market manipulation is central to the entire regulatory
and legal framework governing the operation of American commodity
futures markets. However, despite all of the regulatory, scholarly, and
legal scrutiny of market manipulation, the subject is widely
misunderstood. Federal commodity and securities laws prohibit
manipulation, but do not define it. Scholarly research has failed to
analyze adequately the causes or effects of manipulation, and the
relevant judicial decisions are confused, confusing, and
contradictory.
The aim of this book is to illuminate the process of market manipulation
by presenting a rigorous economic analysis of this phenomenon, including
the conditions that facilitate it and its effects on market users and
others. The conclusions of this analysis are used to examine critically
some legal and regulatory anti-manipulation policies. The Economics,
Law and Public Policy of Market Power Manipulation concludes with a
set of robust and realistic tests that regulators and jurists can apply
to detect and deter manipulation.