On the Consequences of State Dependent Preferences for the Pricing of Financial Assets

Jean-Pierre Danthine (), John B Donaldson, Christos I. Giannikos () and Hany Guirguis

No 3697, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This Paper introduces state dependent utility into the standard Mehra and Prescott (1985) economy by allowing the representative agent’s coefficient of relative risk aversion to vary with the underlying economy’s growth rate. Existence of equilibrium is proved and its asymptotic properties analysed. This generalization leads to level dependent marginal rates of substitution, a property that sharply distinguishes this model from the standard construct. For very low coefficients of relative risk aversion, the equilibrium risk free and risky security returns are demonstrated to have volatilities and an associated equity premium that substantially exceed what is found in the data. This provides a contrasting perspective on the classic ‘equity premium puzzle.’

Keywords: equity premium; equity premium puzzle; state dependent utility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 E21 G12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cfn and nep-rmg
Date: 2003-01
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Working Paper: On the Consequences of State Dependent Preferences for the Pricing of Financial Assets (2004)
Working Paper: On the Consequences of State Dependent Preferences for the Pricing of Financial Assets (2002)
Journal Article: On the consequences of state dependent preferences for the pricing of financial assets (2004)
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