The Equity Premium and the One Percent

Alexis Akira Toda and Kieran James Walsh

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We show that in a general equilibrium model with heterogeneity in risk aversion or belief, shifting wealth from an agent who holds comparatively fewer stocks to one who holds more reduces the equity premium. Since empirically the rich hold more stocks than do the poor, the top income share should predict subsequent excess stock market returns. Consistent with our theory, we find that when the income share of top earners in the U.S. rises, subsequent one year excess market returns significantly decline. This negative relation is robust to (i) controlling for classic return predictors such as the price-dividend and consumption-wealth ratios, (ii) predicting out-of-sample, and (iii) instrumenting with changes in estate tax rates. Cross-country panel regressions suggest that the inverse relation between inequality and returns also holds outside of the U.S., with stronger results in relatively closed economies (emerging markets) than in small open economies (Europe).

Keywords: equity premium; heterogeneous risk aversion; return prediction; wealth distribution; international equity markets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 D52 D53 F30 G12 G17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-03-31, Revised 2017-02-28
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Equity Premium and the One Percent (2020)
Working Paper: Asset Pricing and the One Percent (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:79009

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