Efficient estimation of the equity cost of public corporations is an essential component of computing the required rate of return of real investment projects, and therefore the basis for a rational investment policy. The accepted methodology relies on the CAPM model to define the return risk...

The relationship between risk and expected returns has been investigated extensively in the financial economics literature. Theoretical models generally predict a positive relation between the two. Nevertheless, the empirical findings so far have been inconclusive. Using a generalization of the...