We study the level sets of value functions in expected utility stochastic optimization models. We consider optimal portfolio management models in complete markets with lognormally distributed prices as well as asset prices modeled as diffusion processes with nonlinear dynamics. Besides the...

The process of risk management for institutional investors faces two challenges. First, since most institutions are decentralized as opposed to being direct investors in assets, it is difficult to separate the risks of the assets in the portfolio from the risks generated by the investment...

The process of risk management for institutional investors faces two challenges. First, since most institutions are decentralized as opposed to being direct investors in assets, it is difficult to separate the risks of the assets in the portfolio from the risks generated by the investment...

We provide a simple argument that suggests that better informed hedge funds choose to have less exposure to factor risk. Consistent with this argument we find that hedge funds that exhibit lower R-squares with respect to systematic factors have higher Sharpe ratios, higher information ratios,...

We propose a model with endogenous disasters generated through a labor dynamics mechanism. The model is parsimonious, having only one continuous state variable as well as CRRA agents with reasonable risk aversion. In such a simple setting we solve for prices in closed form and show that we can...

We use university endowment funds to study the relationship between asset allocation decisions and performance in multiple asset class portfolios. Although endowments differ substantially in asset class composition, policy portfolio returns and volatilities are remarkably similar across the...

In this paper we investigate the role of asset allocation in the performance of college and university endowment funds. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive dataset detailing the investment practice and performance of these institutional investors from 1984 to 2005. Despite their ability to...