This paper provides new evidence about returns to scale in asset management, and their connection with capital flows to funds by investors. Equity mutual funds have diminishing returns to scale at the industry level, while hedge and fixed income funds have increasing returns to scale. The...

In order to evaluate the performance of socially responsible investment (SRI) funds, we propose some models which use data envelopment analysis and can be computed in all phases of the business cycle. These models focus on the most crucial elements of an investment in mutual funds.In the...

Theoretical models imply fund size and performance should be negatively linked. However, empiricists have failed to uncover consistent support for this negative relation. Using a new econometric framework which includes fund-specific sensitivities to decreasing returns to scale, we find a both...

Actively managed mutual funds exhibit heterogeneous and time-varying returns to fund and industry scale. When a fund starts out, it exhibits increasing returns to scale (IRS) to industry size and decreasing returns to scale (DRS) to fund size. As funds get older and larger, industry size IRS...

The purpose of this study is to discuss research that identifies heterogeneous mutual fund and investor attributes and relations that explain dispersion in fund fees. One might think there is a short list of attributes and relations, such as high versus low expense ratios, that tells the full...

This study provides mutual fund shareholders with a normative listing of transparent and traditionally opaque fees and expenses designed for most all funds. The most likely next step, if any, would be for a few "stewardship funds" to adopt the normative listing of transparent and traditionally...

This article explores the relationships of mutual fund advertising and investor skill in making fund choices. Fund advertising dominates the choices of unsophisticated investors. Advertising appeals to investor emotions by resonating with current beliefs, not by providing information that...

The purpose of this study is to discuss research that identifies heterogeneous mutual fund and investor attributes and relations that explain dispersion in fund fees. One might think there is a short list of attributes and relations, such as high versus low expense ratios, that tells the full...

First, this study reviews Morningstar analytical grading measures used by investors to choose mutual funds. These measures include Morningstar star ratings, analyst ratings, total pillar ratings, upside and downside capture ratios, and stewardship ratings. Second, the study provides results of...

First, this study reviews Morningstar analytical grading measures used by investors to choose mutual funds. These measures include Morningstar Star Ratings, Analyst Ratings, Total Pillar Ratings, Upside and Downside Capture Ratios, and Stewardship Ratings. Second, the study provides results of...