MarketsClassroom · multi-user
Double Auction
Run a live trading pit: buyers and sellers post bids and asks, and the market discovers a price with no one in charge.
You’ll learn: See how a competitive market converges to equilibrium and why that outcome is efficient.
- Competitive equilibrium
- Price discovery
- Market efficiency
- Surplus
Teacher guide
Students will learn to
- See how a market settles on a price even though no one is in charge of setting it.
- Understand competitive equilibrium and why transaction prices converge toward it.
- Connect each buy/sell decision to surplus, and the whole market to efficiency.
Before the session — ask
- If you were selling something, how would you decide the lowest price you'd accept?
- Can a room full of buyers and sellers agree on a price with no one in charge?
After the session — discuss
- Did the transaction prices end up near the competitive equilibrium? Why might that happen?
- Who captured the most surplus, and was the overall outcome efficient?
- How would the result change if there were many more buyers than sellers?
Timing
- Briefing & role cards3–5 min
- Open trading8–10 min
- Debrief & discussion8–10 min
Run it with your class
Students join with a code or QR — no account needed. Teachers start a session from the dashboard.