Moment-based estimation often yields instable estimates, such as the RRA (relative risk aversion) estimate in consumption-based asset pricing. This paper establishes novel theoretical results for the ESP (empirical saddlepoint) approximation, and then use them to investigate this instability. We...

Basic asset pricing theory predicts high expected returns are a compensation for risk. However, high expected returns might also constitute anomalies due to frictions or behavioral biases. We propose two complementary simple-to-use tests to assess whether risk can explain differences in expected...

Basic asset pricing theory predicts high expected returns are a compensation for risk. However, high expected returns might also represent an anomaly due to frictions or behavioral biases. We propose two complementary, simple-to-use tests to assess whether risk can explain differences in...