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Solvency Constraint, Underdiversification, and Idiosyncratic Risks

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  • Liu, Hong

Abstract

Contrary to the prediction of the standard portfolio diversification theory, many investors place a large fraction of their stock investment in a small number of stocks. I show that underdiversification may be caused by solvency requirements. My model predicts that for quite general preferences and return distributions: (1) underdiversification decreases in discretionary wealth; and (2) expected return and covariance determine which stocks to invest in, but variance, higher moments, and Sharpe ratio do not matter for this choice. In addition, a less-diversified stock portfolio has a higher expected return, a higher volatility, and a higher skewness, and idiosyncratic risks are priced.

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  • Liu, Hong, 2014. "Solvency Constraint, Underdiversification, and Idiosyncratic Risks," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(2), pages 409-430, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:49:y:2014:i:02:p:409-430_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Raslan Alzuabi & Sarah Brown & Mark N. Harris & Karl Taylor, 2024. "Modelling the composition of household portfolios: A latent class approach," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 57(1), pages 243-275, February.
    2. Zhou, Zhongbao & Gao, Meng & Xiao, Helu & Wang, Rui & Liu, Wenbin, 2021. "Big data and portfolio optimization: A novel approach integrating DEA with multiple data sources," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    3. Marie-Hélène Broihanne & Maxime Merli & Patrick Roger, 2016. "Diversification, gambling and market forces," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 129-157, July.
    4. Gu Wang & Jiaxuan Ye, 2023. "Fund Managers’ Competition for Investment Flows Based on Relative Performance," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 198(2), pages 605-643, August.
    5. Daniel Lacker & Thaleia Zariphopoulou, 2017. "Mean field and n-agent games for optimal investment under relative performance criteria," Papers 1703.07685, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2018.
    6. Min Dai & Yipeng Jiang & Hong Liu & Jing Xu, 2023. "A Rational Theory for Disposition Effects," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 131-157, January.
    7. Nusrat Jahan & John J. Cheh & Il-woon Kim, 2016. "A comparison of Graham and Piotroski investment models using accounting information and efficacy measurement," Journal of Economic and Financial Studies (JEFS), LAR Center Press, vol. 4(1), pages 43-54, February.

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