This paper integrates the problem of designing corporate bank-ruptcy rules into a theory of optimal debt structure. We show that, in an incomplete-contracts framework with imperfect renegotiation, having multiple creditors increases a firms debt capacity while increasing its incentives to...

This paper explores the structure of optimal investment strategies using stochastic programming and duality theory in investment portfolios containing options for a hedge fund manager who attempts to beat a benchmark. Explicit optimal conditions for option investments are obtained for several...

This paper presents a theoretical study of how incentives affect hedge fund risk and returns and an empirical study of the performance of a large group of operating hedge funds. Most hedge fund managers receive a flat fee plus a share of the returns above a certain benchmark. We investigate how...

In this study we analyze the performance persistence of hedge funds over different time horizons. Using a non-parametric test, we first observe that the relative value and the specialist credit strategies contain the highest proportion of outperforming mangers. Furthermore, there is no evidence...

We use an expected utility framework to integrate the hedge funds survival uncertainty into an asset allocation optimizartion model. The addition of investment constraints complicates the resolution of the optimal allocation problem. It is solved using a genetic algorithm that mimics the...

In this paper we study the hedging of derivatives in illiquid markets. More specifically we consider a model where the implementation of a hedging strategy affects the price of the underlying security. Following earlier work we characterize perfect hedging strategies by a nonlinear version of...

This paper investigates model risk issues in the context of mean-variance portfolio selection. We analytically and numerically show that, under model misspecification, the use of statistically robust estimates instead of the widely used classical sample mean and covariance is highly beneficial...

The wealth dynamics of insurance companies strongly depends on the success of their investment strategies, but also on liquidity shocks which occur during unfavorable years, when indemnities to be paid to the clients exceed collected premia. An investment strategy that does not take liquidity...

This paper proposes a new wealth-dependent utility function for the inter-temporal consumption and portfolio problem, in which the subsistance (bliss) con-sumption level is a function of wealth. Ratchet effects obtain when higher wealth in-creases the subsistance consumption level; blas´...

This paper studies an application of a Darwinian theory of portfolioselection to stocks listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).We analyze numerically the long-run outcome of the competition offix-mix portfolio rules in a stock market with actual DJIA dividends.In the model seemingly...