Previous research has shown that frictions might have a significant impact on the value of a contingent claim, as discussed, for example, in Karatzas & Kou (1996)and Collin-Dufresne & Hugonnier (2002). We consider two types of frictions particularly important: frictions related to trading, such...

This paper analyzes the effects that uncertainty about economic fundamentalshas on aggregate trading volume. First, the trading volume of an investor facinga standard consumption portfolio choice problem is derived. It is found that if theparameters describing the investment opportunity set...

In this study, we examine whether changes in the investment opportunityset stemming from interest rate and credit risks are priced in the US, theUK and the Swiss equity premia by estimating both two-factor and three-factor versions of Merton’s ICAPM. The systematic pricing of credit riskis...

Macroeconomic asset pricing literature is concerned with many puzzling aspects in the financial market. Most prominent are the equity premium puzzle, the risk–free rate puzzle, and the volatility puzzle. Moreover, the literature has come to different conclusions regarding the movement of the...

In this paper we show that reputation formation in endogenously formed relationships is a decisive determinant for the existence and performance of credit markets. In theabsence of any third party enforcement of debt repayment the contracting parties succeed in establishing stable bilateral...

In June 2003 Swiss banks held over CHF 500 billion in mortgages. This important segment accounts for about 63% of all loan portfolios of Swiss banks. Since default insurance is not common in Switzerland, the corresponding risks are a severe threat for the health of the financial system. We...

We suggest a simple asset market model in which we analyze competitive and strategic behavior simultaneously. If two-fund separation is found to hold across periods for competitive behavior, it also holds for strategic behavior. In this case the relative prices of the assets do not depend on...

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...

In this paper we show that measures of economic uncertainty (conditional volatilityof consumption) predict and are predicted by valuation ratios at long horizons. Furtherwe document that asset valuations drop as economic uncertainty rises — that is,financial markets dislike economic...

There is an extensive literature claiming that it is often difficultto make use of arbitrage opportunities in financial markets. Thispaper provides a new reason why existing arbitrage opportunitiesmight not be seized. We consider a world with short-lived securities,no short-selling constraints...