We test the effect of status in a laboratory experimental market using the standard Double Oral Auction. We consider a box design with a unique Walrasian outcome. In half of the experiments status is awarded to a group of people according to the scores of a trivia quiz. The status group is in the long side of the market, hence they do not have any market power. In the other half of the experiments status is not awarded. We find that prices never reach the Walrasian price in the status sessions while it is attained in non status experiments. Therefore status bias the theoretical perfect competition outcome
