We consider the demand for state contingent claims in the presence of a zero-mean, nonhedgeable background risk. An agent is defined to be generalized risk averse if he/she reacts to an increase in background risk by choosing a demand function for contingent claims with a smaller slope. We show...

The Black-Scholesmodelis basedona one-parameter pricingkernel with constantelasticity. Theoretical and empirical results suggest declining elasticity and, hence, a pricing kernel withat leasttwo parameters.We price European-style optionson assets whose probability distributions have two unknown...

We examine the effects of non-portfolio risks on optimal portfolio choice. Examples of non-portfolio risks include, among others, uncertain labor income, uncertainty about the terminal value of fixed assets such as housing and uncertainty about future tax liabilities. In particular, while some...

Portfolio choice is usually modelled by von Neumann-Morgenstern utility. Risk-value models are more general and permit the derivation of risk-value efficient frontiers. A behaviorally based risk measure with an endogenous or exogenous benchmark is used to derive efficient portfolios and to...