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Have risk premia vanished?

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  • Smith, Simon C.
  • Timmermann, Allan

Abstract

We apply a new methodology for identifying pervasive and discrete changes (“breaks”) in cross-sectional risk premia. Size, value, and investment risk premia have fallen off to the point where they are insignificantly different from zero at the end of the sample period. The market risk premium has also declined systematically over time but remains significant and positive as do the momentum and profitability risk premium. We construct a new instability risk factor from cross-sectional differences in individual stocks’ exposure to time-varying risk premia and show that this factor earns a premium comparable to that of commonly used risk factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, Simon C. & Timmermann, Allan, 2022. "Have risk premia vanished?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 553-576.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:145:y:2022:i:2:p:553-576
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.08.019
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cross-sectional variation in risk premia; Instability risk factor; Industry and style portfolios; Bayesian analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General

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