Markedsdesign

Markedsdesign, often translated as market design, is the interdisciplinary field that studies how the rules and institutions governing markets and platforms can be designed to achieve better outcomes such as efficiency, stability, and fairness. The term is used in Danish and Norwegian contexts and corresponds to the broader economic concept of market design.

Researchers in markedsdesign analyze how the structure of auctions, matching processes, pricing rules, and the visibility of information influence participant incentives and market performance. Central methodological ideas come from mechanism design, matching theory, and game theory, with emphasis on creating mechanisms that yield desirable results even when participants act in their own interests.

Key challenges in markedsdesign include creating mechanisms robust to strategic manipulation, operating under incomplete information, and functioning under real-world constraints such as capacity limits and regulatory requirements. The field also addresses dynamic and multi-sided platforms where participants interact repeatedly and adapt over time.

Applications of markedsdesign span education, health, labor markets, energy, and digital platforms. Examples include school and university admissions using stable matching procedures, organ transplant allocation systems, energy and spectrum auctions, and online marketplaces that rely on incentive-compatible pricing and fair allocation rules. The aim in these contexts is to improve access, efficiency, and welfare through well-designed institutions.

Historical context and influence: the field grew from theoretical economics and operations research in the late 20th century. Pioneering contributions from researchers such as Lloyd Shapley and Alvin E. Roth laid the foundations for modern market design, with Roth and Shapley later receiving Nobel prizes for their work. Today, markedsdesign intersects computer science and public policy, incorporating algorithmic and computational methods to implement market rules in practice.