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Tempering effects of (dependent) background risks: A mean-variance analysis of portfolio selection

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  • Eichner, Thomas
  • Wagener, Andreas

Abstract

In a mean variance framework, we analyse risk taking in the presence of a (possibly) dependent background risk, exemplified in a linear portfolio selection problem. We first characterise the comparative statics of changes in the distribution and dependence structure of the background risk. For unfair, undesirable and loss-aggravating increases in background risks (both dependent and independent), we then present necessary and sufficient restrictions on preferences such that greater background uncertainty leads to reduced risk taking. With mean-variance preferences, these restrictions boil down to simple conditions on the marginal rate of substitution between risk and return. They can be easily related to familiar notions such as risk vulnerability, properness or standardness.

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  • Eichner, Thomas & Wagener, Andreas, 2012. "Tempering effects of (dependent) background risks: A mean-variance analysis of portfolio selection," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(6), pages 422-430.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:mateco:v:48:y:2012:i:6:p:422-430
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmateco.2012.09.001
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    9. Moawia Alghalith & Xu Guo & Cuizhen Niu & Wing-Keung Wong, 2017. "Input Demand Under Joint Energy and Output Prices Uncertainties," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 34(04), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Lu, Jin-Ray & Hwang, Chih-Chiang & Liu, Min-Luan & Lin, Chien-Yi, 2016. "An incentive problem of risk balancing in portfolio choices," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 192-200.
    11. Philippe Bontems & Celine Nauges, 2018. "Production choices with water markets and risk aversion: the role of initial allocations and forward trading," Post-Print hal-02349932, HAL.
    12. Subhadip Mukherjee & Soumyatanu Mukherjee & Tapas Mishra & Udo Broll & Mamata Parhi, 2021. "Spot exchange rate volatility, uncertain policies and export investment decision of firms: a mean-variance decision approach," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(8), pages 752-773, May.
    13. Subhadip Mukherjee & Soumyatanu Mukherjee & Tapas Mishra & Udo Broll, 2019. "Export investment under uncertainty: a mean-variance decision analysis for Indian manufacturing exporters," Discussion Papers 2019-18, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    14. Alghalith, Moawia & Niu, Cuizhen & Wong, Wing-Keung, 2017. "The impacts of joint energy and output prices uncertainties in a mean-variance framework," MPRA Paper 79739, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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