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Financial Market Risk Perceptions and the Macroeconomy

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  • Carolin Pflueger
  • Emil Siriwardane
  • Adi Sunderam

Abstract

We provide evidence that financial market risk perceptions are important drivers of economic fluctuations. We introduce a novel measure of risk perceptions: the price of volatile stocks (PVSt), defined as the book-to-market ratio of low-volatility stocks minus the book-to-market ratio of high-volatility stocks. PVSt is high when perceived risk directly measured from surveys and option prices is low. Using our measure, we show that high perceived risk is associated with low risk-free interest rates, a high cost of capital for risky firms, and future declines in output and real investment. Perceived risk as measured by PVSt falls after positive macroeconomic news. These declines are predictably followed by upward revisions in perceived risk, indicating that fluctuations in investor risk perceptions are not fully rational.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolin Pflueger & Emil Siriwardane & Adi Sunderam, 2020. "Financial Market Risk Perceptions and the Macroeconomy," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(3), pages 1443-1491.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:135:y:2020:i:3:p:1443-1491.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/qje/qjaa009
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert A Connolly & David Dubofsky & Chris Stivers, 2021. "Economic-State Variation in Uncertainty-Yield Dynamics [Do macro variables, asset markets, or surveys forecast inflation better?]," The Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 11(1), pages 60-104.
    2. Susanto Basu & Giacomo Candian & Ryan Chahrour & Rosen Valchev, 2021. "Risky Business Cycles," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1029, Boston College Department of Economics, revised 17 Sep 2024.
    3. Liu, Qing & Wang, Shouyang & Sui, Cong, 2023. "Risk appetite and option prices: Evidence from the Chinese SSE50 options market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. ÅžimÅŸek, Alp, 2021. "The Macroeconomics of Financial Speculation," CEPR Discussion Papers 15733, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Hoek, Jasper & Kamin, Steve & Yoldas, Emre, 2022. "Are higher U.S. interest rates always bad news for emerging markets?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    6. Claeys, Grégory & Papioti, Chara & Tryphonides, Andreas, 2023. "Liquidity risk, market power and the informational effects of policy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    7. Jon Danielsson & Marcela Valenzuela & Ilknur Zer, 2023. "The Impact of Risk Cycles on Business Cycles: A Historical View," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(7), pages 2922-2961.
    8. Julien Vastenaekels, 2024. "Degrowth and capitalist power: A step towards a theory of change," Post-Print hal-04584989, HAL.
    9. Koëter, Joren, 2021. "Essays on asset pricing, investor preferences, and derivative markets," Other publications TiSEM 9e88a66e-b972-4af3-91d6-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Kuvshinov, Dmitry & Zimmermann, Kaspar, 2020. "The Expected Return on Risky Assets: International Long-run Evidence," CEPR Discussion Papers 15610, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. João Granja & Christian Leuz & Raghuram G. Rajan, 2022. "Going the Extra Mile: Distant Lending and Credit Cycles," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(2), pages 1259-1324, April.
    12. Polyzos, Efstathios, 2022. "Examining the asymmetric impact of macroeconomic policy in the UAE: Evidence from quartile impulse responses and machine learning," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    13. Kozak, Serhiy, 2022. "Dynamics of bond and stock returns," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 188-209.
    14. Matthias Fleckenstein & Francis A. Longstaff, 2023. "Small Business Equity Returns: Empirical Evidence from the Business Credit Card Securitization Market," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(1), pages 389-425, February.

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