A Minimax Portfolio Selection Rule with Linear Programming Solution

Martin R. Young
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Martin R. Young: University of Michigan School of Business, Department of Statistics and Management Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1234

Management Science, 1998, vol. 44, issue 5, 673-683

Abstract: A new principle for choosing portfolios based on historical returns data is introduced; the optimal portfolio based on this principle is the solution to a simple linear programming problem. This principle uses minimum return rather than variance as a measure of risk. In particular, the portfolio is chosen that minimizes the maximum loss over all past observation periods, for a given level of return. This objective function avoids the logical problems of a quadratic (nonmonotone) utility function implied by mean-variance portfolio selection rules. The resulting minimax portfolios are diversified; for normal returns data, the portfolios are nearly equivalent to those chosen by a mean-variance rule. Framing the portfolio selection process as a linear optimization problem also makes it feasible to constrain certain decision variables to be integer, or 0-1, valued; this feature facilitates the use of more complex decision-making models, including models with fixed transaction charges and models with Boolean-type constraints on allocations.

Keywords: Mean-Variance Analysis; Optimization; Utility Theory; Volatility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (100)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:44:y:1998:i:5:p:673-683

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