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Catastrophe Aversion and Risk Equity in an Interdependent World

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  • Bernard, Carole
  • Rheinberger, Christoph
  • Treich, Nicolas

Abstract

Catastrophe aversion and risk equity are important concepts in both risk management theory and practice. Keeney (1980) was the first to formally define these concepts. He demonstrated that the two concepts are always in conflict. Yet this result is based on the assumption that individual risks are independent and has thus limited relevance for real world catastrophic events. We extend Keeney’s result to dependent risks and derive the conditions under which more correlation between two risks induces a more catastrophic risk. We then generalize some of the results for multiple correlated risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard, Carole & Rheinberger, Christoph & Treich, Nicolas, 2017. "Catastrophe Aversion and Risk Equity in an Interdependent World," TSE Working Papers 17-811, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    • Handle: RePEc:tse:wpaper:31741
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    2. Bernard, C. & De Gennaro Aquino, L. & Vanduffel, S., 2023. "Optimal multivariate financial decision making," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(1), pages 468-483.
    3. Al-Najjar, Nabil I. & Pomatto, Luciano, 2020. "Aggregate risk and the Pareto principle," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
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    6. Christoph M. Rheinberger & Nicolas Treich, 2017. "Attitudes Toward Catastrophe," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 67(3), pages 609-636, July.

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