Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Good review of current literature, 2008-03-27
This book is probably best for someone with some formal economics or mathematics training. Or at least a reader with a strong interest in this field. If you are interested in microstructure and want a good review of current models, this book is for you.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
A good book, if you are prepared for it., 2005-10-09
If you are serious about learning Market Microstructure this book is a great preview to reading the actual papers. It gives you enough intuition that you can approach classic papers by Stoll, Glosten and Milgrom, Easley and O'Hara, Kyle, etc.
Also, you do not need a serious knowledge of the subject matter to open this book (although it helps to have an undergraduate level investments class under your belt). However, finance prerequisites aside, you should be prepared with a fairly thorough knowledge of microeconomics and statistics. A semester or two at a good graduate economics program should do the trick. Otherwise, this can be a tough read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A classic in market microstructure theory, 2004-10-24
I do not imagine a faculty of management's library without this book avalailable for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.
As opposed to another reviewer, I really liked the structure. Starting with inventory problems, then dealing with asymetric information and finally going thru agent's strategic behavior; you get the big picture regarding the main issues in market microstructure.
Maybe a bit more detail and explanations on the derivation of some basic models would have been more value added. Unfortunately, you must move on to the original published academic paper to get a fully understanding of any particular model. You cannot rely exclusively on the book.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
The Bible of market microstructure theory, 2000-10-12
This is the quintessential book on the theory of the microstructure of financial markets. Although it is not meant for people with just a casual interest in the area, it is nevertheless an indispensable book for academics and for people serious about the topic. It is also far more readable and understandable than Daniel Spurber's book which provides little of the working intuition of O'Hara. In fact Spurber is meant more for the theoretical economist with an interest in market microstructure, whereas O'Hara appeals to a broader audience in the field of finance.
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
A Counter Point, 2000-07-01
This book does not need praise. It is widely considered the best introduction to the academic work in market microstructure. The only reason I've listed this review is to counter the unfortunate review already listed. This book is perfect for the researcher or PhD student interested in the issues addressed in market microstructure. Although the book is not written for the average mba student, a careful read would benefit anyone interested in the structure of markets.