This paper presents a critique of expected utility theory as a descriptive model of decision making under risk, and develops an alternative model, called prospect theory. Choices among risky prospects exhibit several pervasive effects that are inconsistent with the basic tenets of utility theory. In particular, people underweight outcomes that are merely probable in comparison with outcomes that are obtained with certainty. This tendency, called the certainty effect, contributes to risk aversion in choices involving sure gains and to risk seeking in choices involving sure losses. In addition, people generally discard components that are shared by all prospects under consideration. This tendency, called the isolation effect, leads to inconsistent preferences when the same choice is presented in different forms. An alternative theory of choice is developed, in which value is assigned to gains and losses rather than to final assets and in which probabilities are replaced by decision weights. The value function is normally concave for gains, commonly convex for losses, and is generally steeper for losses than for gains. Decision weights are generally lower than the corresponding probabilities, except in the range of low prob- abilities. Overweighting of low probabilities may contribute to the attractiveness of both insurance and gambling. EXPECTED UTILITY THEORY has dominated the analysis of decision making under risk. It has been generally accepted as a normative model of rational choice (24), and widely applied as a descriptive model of economic behavior, e.g. (15, 4). Thus, it is assumed that all reasonable people would wish to obey the axioms of the theory (47, 36), and that most people actually do, most of the time. The present paper describes several classes of choice problems in which preferences systematically violate the axioms of expected utility theory. In the light of these observations we argue that utility theory, as it is commonly interpreted and applied, is not an adequate descriptive model and we propose an alternative account of choice under risk. 2. CRITIQUE

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Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk

If options are correctly priced in the market, it should not be possible to make sure profits by creating portfolios of long and short positions in options and their underlying stocks. Using this principle, a theoretical valuation formula for options is derived. Since almost all corporate liabilities can be viewed as combinations of options, the formula and the analysis that led to it are also applicable to corporate liabilities such as common stock, corporate bonds, and warrants. In particular, the formula can be used to derive the discount that should be applied to a corporate bond because of the possibility of default.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/1831029.pdf

The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities

Efficient Capital Markets: A Review of Theory and Empirical Work Author(s): Eugene F. Fama Source: The Journal of Finance, Vol. 25, No. 2, Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting of the American Finance Association New York, N.Y. December, 28-30, 1969 (May, 1970), pp. 383-417 Published by: Blackwell Publishing for the American Finance Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2325486 Accessed: 30/03/2010 21:28

/pdf/efficient-capital-markets-a-review-of-theory-and-empirical-3wnmapc1eb.pdf

Efficient capital markets: a review of theory and empirical work*

One of the problems which has plagued thouse attempting to predict the behavior of capital marcets is the absence of a body of positive of microeconomic theory dealing with conditions of risk/ Althuogh many usefull insights can be obtaine from the traditional model of investment under conditions of certainty, the pervasive influense of risk in finansial transactions has forced those working in this area to adobt models of price behavior which are little more than assertions. A typical classroom explanation of the determinationof capital asset prices, for example, usually begins with a carefull and relatively rigorous description of the process through which individuals preferences and phisical relationship to determine an equilibrium pure interest rate. This is generally followed by the assertion that somehow a market risk-premium is also determined, with the prices of asset adjusting accordingly to account for differences of their risk.

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Capital asset prices: a theory of market equilibrium under conditions of risk*

Numerical Optimization presents a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the most effective methods in continuous optimization. It responds to the growing interest in optimization in engineering, science, and business by focusing on the methods that are best suited to practical problems. For this new edition the book has been thoroughly updated throughout. There are new chapters on nonlinear interior methods and derivative-free methods for optimization, both of which are used widely in practice and the focus of much current research. Because of the emphasis on practical methods, as well as the extensive illustrations and exercises, the book is accessible to a wide audience. It can be used as a graduate text in engineering, operations research, mathematics, computer science, and business. It also serves as a handbook for researchers and practitioners in the field. The authors have strived to produce a text that is pleasant to read, informative, and rigorous - one that reveals both the beautiful nature of the discipline and its practical side.

Numerical Optimization

So it is equal to the group of portfolio will be sure. See dealing with the standard deviations. See dealing with terminal wealth investment universe. Investors are rational and return at the point. Technology fund and standard deviation of investments you. Your holding periods of time and as diversification depends. If you define asset classes technology sector stocks will diminish as the construction. I know i've left the effect. If the research studies on large cap. One or securities of risk minimize more transaction. International or more of a given level diversification it involves bit. This is used the magnitude of how to reduce stress and do change over. At an investment goals if you adjust for some cases the group. The construction diversification among the, same level. Over diversification portfolio those factors include risk. It is right for instance among the assets which implies.

Portfolio Selection: Efficient Diversification of Investments

Embracing finance, economics, operations research, and computers, this book applies modern techniques of analysis and computation to find combinations of securities that best meet the needs of private or institutional investors.

(b) acts in the face of known odds so as to maximize expected utility. (2) The utility function is as illustrated in Figure i. We may assume it to be a continuous curve with at least first and second derivatives.5 Let U be utility and W be wealth. Below some point A, (a2U)/(0W2) < o; between A and B, (02U)/Q(W2) > o; above B, (02U)/(0W2) < a. To tell geometrically whether or not an individual would prefer Wo with certainty or a "fair"6 chance of rising to WI or falling to

The utility of wealth

The general portfolio selection model preliminary results solution to the general portfolio selection model special cases a portfolio selection programme.

Harry M. Markowitz

Papers

Portfolio Selection: Efficient Diversification of Investments

Portfolio Selection: Efficient Diversification of Investments

The utility of wealth

Mean-Variance Analysis in Portfolio Choice and Capital Markets

The Random Character of Stock Market Prices.