Prediction Markets = Collective Forecasting = Collective Intelligence That Predicts

What to think of all those Wisdom-Of-Crowds sites popping up like forest mushrooms after an October rain?

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Via Art Hutchinson (just out of summer hibernation), this mid-October Wash Post article quoting two usual suspects:

Justin Wolfers, a business professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said collective wisdom — reflected for instance in the stock prices set jointly by millions of knowledgeable investors in the open market, and in sports betting lines determined by large groups of avid gamblers — is more likely to be accurate than Web sites claiming to feature experts. Someone must have a track record stretching back decades before it is statistically possible to conclude whether success results from talent or random chance, he said.

“If they’re really consistent, it’s kind of hard to see how the sites will survive. The experts will leave,” said Robin Hanson, an economics professor at George Mason University.

More Reading: WSJ on fantasy wagering sites.

Note: I’m not covering those Wisdom-Of-Crowds sites on Midas Oracle or CFM, but our blog colleague Alex Kirtland does it from time to time on his blog. I prefer focusing on prediction markets and other predictive markets. Those Wisdom-Of-Crowds sites are probably very interesting too, but I can’t spread myself too thin. I will be vigilant, and provide links to some great, recap-it-all stories (like the two above), from time to time, though. If other Midas Oracle Post Authors want to publish something on those Wisdom-Of-Crowds sites, in their forecasting dimension or else, they should feel free.

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