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Investing in Emotional Assets

Author

Listed:
  • Elroy Dimson

    (London Business School - London Business School)

  • Christophe Spaenjers

    (GREGH - Groupement de Recherche et d'Etudes en Gestion à HEC - HEC Paris - Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

We review the long-term investment performance of three important categories of emotional assets -- stamps, art, and musical instruments. The long-run returns on these collectibles have been superior to the total return from government bonds and Treasury bills (and gold), at least before taking into account differences in transaction costs and other expenses. However, the price volatility of emotional assets is larger than is suggested by the standard deviations of price indexes. The investment risk is further augmented by collectibles' exposure to fluctuating tastes and fads, and their vulnerability to frauds. Finally, indirect investment in emotional asset markets comes with its own set of problems. The available evidence thus indicates that an investment in collectibles should not be considered lightly. However, even if collectible emotional assets are dominated by financial assets in their risk-return properties, they can still be rational purchases for individuals who derive pleasure from owning them.

Suggested Citation

  • Elroy Dimson & Christophe Spaenjers, 2014. "Investing in Emotional Assets," Post-Print hal-00998271, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00998271
    DOI: 10.2469/faj.v70.n2.8
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    Cited by:

    1. Eric Fur, 2023. "Risk and return of classic car market prices: passion or financial investment?," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(1), pages 59-68, February.
    2. Spaenjers, Christophe & Goetzmann, William N. & Mamonova, Elena, 2015. "The economics of aesthetics and record prices for art since 1701," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 79-94.
    3. Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Luis A. Gil-Alana & Alex Plastun & Ahniia Havrylina, 2022. "Persistence in the Passion Investment Market," CESifo Working Paper Series 9586, CESifo.
    4. Adrian Fernandez-Perez & Bart Frijns & Alireza Tourani-Rad & Jean-Philippe Weisskopf, 2019. "Behavioural heterogeneity in wine investments," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(30), pages 3236-3255, June.
    5. Laurs, Dries & Renneboog, Luc, 2019. "My kingdom for a horse (or a classic car)," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 184-207.
    6. Scharnowski, Matthias & Scharnowski, Stefan & Zimmermann, Lukas, 2023. "Fan tokens: Sports and speculation on the blockchain," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Dobrynskaya, Victoria & Kishilova, Julia, 2022. "Lego: The Toy Of Smart Investors," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    8. Potrykus, Marcin, 2022. "Diamond investments – Is the market free from multiple price bubbles?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Lennon, Conor & Shohfi, Tom, 2021. "Unbridled spirit: Illicit markets for bourbon whiskey," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 1025-1045.
    10. Savva Shanaev & Nikita Shimkus & Binam Ghimire & Satish Sharma, 2020. "Children’s toy or grown-ups’ gamble? LEGO sets as an alternative investment," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(5), pages 577-620, November.
    11. Fur, Eric Le, 2021. "Fine Wines in a Diversified Portfolio of Collectibles," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315852, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Plastun, Alex & Bouri, Elie & Havrylina, Ahniia & Ji, Qiang, 2022. "Calendar anomalies in passion investments: Price patterns and profit opportunities," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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