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A Measure of Risk Appetite for the Macroeconomy

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  • Carolin Pflueger
  • Emil Siriwardane
  • Adi Sunderam

Abstract

We document a strong and robust positive relationship between real rates and the contemporaneous valuation of volatile stocks, which we contend measures the economy’s risk appetite. Our novel proxy for risk appetite explains 41% of the variation in the one-year real rate since 1970, while the valuation of the aggregate stock market explains just 1%. In addition, the real rate forecasts returns on volatile stocks, confirming our interpretation that changes in risk appetite drive the real rate. Increases in our measure of risk appetite are followed by a boom in investment and output.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolin Pflueger & Emil Siriwardane & Adi Sunderam, 2018. "A Measure of Risk Appetite for the Macroeconomy," NBER Working Papers 24529, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24529
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    9. Danielsson, Jon & Valenzuela, Marcela & Zer, Ilknur, 2020. "Financial volatility and economic growth, 1870-2016," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118886, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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