This study develops three heuristics to measure financial optimism: financial expectation, a priori optimism, and a posteriori optimism. This paper finds that financial optimism has a significant positive effect on risk taking behaviour. Optimistic investors choose risky portfolios over...

The global minimum variance portfolio computed using the sample covariance matrix is known to be negatively affected by parameter uncertainty, an important component of model risk. Using a robust approach, we introduce a portfolio rule for investors who wish to invest in the global minimum...

In this thesis we explore two recent topics in behavioral finance, namely portfolio optimization by non-expected utility insiders and existence of equilibria in financial markets populated by heterogeneous agents. Firstly, we review a number of theories which have been used to model behavioral...

This work shows how long-term investors can benefit from adding volatility as an asset class to their portfolio. Two types of "structural" exposure – long implied volatility and long volatility risk premium – are now simple to implement. Implied volatility exposure can be used to...

We consider a life-cycle model with bequest motives, and assume that the individual does not know his/hersurvival probability and has maxmin utility preferences; we show that it is optimal not to annuitize but to purchase pure life insurance policies instead.

The electricity industry is undergoing a substantial process of restructuring, with an emphasis on the introduction of competition in the generation sector. Traditional planning methods are not necessarily appropriate for this new environment. This paper extends a previously developed linear...

Nous présentons et testons diverses mesures courantes de l'inclinaison des investisseurs vis-à-vis des produits risqués : les spreads high yield et émergent, les volatilités implicites sur les marchés boursiers et des changes, la corrélation taux d'intérêt/bourse, et celle entre...

Le thème central de cet ouvrage porte sur l'adéquation des représentations théoriques du comportement décisionnel des agents et sur ses implications pour la pertinence des mesures de la juste valeur des instruments financiers. L'ouvrage vise en premier lieu à mettre en perspective le rôle...

In this paper, we show that behavioral features can be obtained at a group level when the individuals of the group are heterogeneous enough. More precisely, starting from a standard model of Pareto optimal allocations, with expected utility maximizers and exponential dis- counting, but allowing...