Volume 2, Issue 1 March 2006

Measuring Investors' Risk Appetite

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for measuring investor risk appetite based on the variation in the ratio of risk-neutral to subjective probabilities used by investors in evaluating possible future returns to an asset. Unlike other indicators advanced in the literature, our measure of market sentiment distinguishes risk appetite from risk aversion, and is reported in levels rather than changes. Implementation of the approach yields results that respond to crises and other major economic events in a plausible manner.

Authors

  • Prasanna Gai
  • Nicholas Vause

JEL codes

  • G10
  • G12
  • G13

Other papers in this issue

Helmut Elsinger and Alfred Lehar and Martin Summer

Prasanna Gai and Nicholas Vause

Christopher J. Erceg and Luca Guerrieri and Christopher Gust

Naohiko Baba and Motoharu Nakashima and Yosuke Shigemi and Kazuo Ueda

Helmut Elsinger and Alfred Lehar and Martin Summer

Christopher J Erceg and Luca Guerrieri and Christopher Gust

Naohiko Baba and Motoharu Nakashima and Yosuke Shigemi and Kazuo Ueda