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Infrastructure: Real Assets and Real Returns

Author

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  • Ron Bird
  • Harry Liem
  • Susan Thorp

Abstract

Little empirical work has been done on infrastructure as an asset class despite increased allocations by institutional investors. We build a robust factor model of infrastructure returns using US and Australian infrastructure and utility data to test manager claims that infrastructure investments offer benefits via a combination of monopolistic and defensive assets. We find evidence of excess returns and inflation hedging, but not of defensive characteristics. We compare option†based models designed to replicate infrastructure asset returns, and identify the regulatory risk premium. A combination of inflation linked bonds and covered call strategies results in improved defensive and inflation hedging characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron Bird & Harry Liem & Susan Thorp, 2014. "Infrastructure: Real Assets and Real Returns," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 20(4), pages 802-824, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:20:y:2014:i:4:p:802-824
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-036X.2012.00650.x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Muhammad Jufri Marzuki & Graeme Newell, 2020. "The investment opportunities in the innovation-led listed satellite and telecommunication infrastructure sectors," Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 39(3), pages 223-238, April.
    3. Ben Ammar, Semir & Eling, Martin, 2013. "Common Risk Factors of Infrastructure Firms," Working Papers on Finance 1307, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance.
    4. Rabson Magweva & Mabutho Sibanda & Mariam Camarero, 2020. "Inflation and infrastructure sector returns in emerging markets—panel ARDL approach," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1730078-173, January.
    5. Nadine Gatzert & Thomas Kosub, 2014. "Insurers’ Investment in Infrastructure: Overview and Treatment under Solvency II," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 39(2), pages 351-372, April.
    6. Ben Ammar, Semir & Eling, Martin, 2015. "Common risk factors of infrastructure investments," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 257-273.
    7. Muhammad Jufri Marzuki & Graeme Newell, 2020. "A global investment opportunity in non-listed infrastructure for institutional investors," Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 39(3), pages 239-255, May.
    8. Louis Chakkalakal & Ulrich Hommel & Wenwei Li, 2018. "Transport infrastructure equities in mixed-asset portfolios: estimating risk with a Garch-Copula CVaR model," Journal of Property Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(2), pages 117-138, April.
    9. Javier Alonso & Alfonso Arellano & David Tuesta, 2016. "Pension fund investments in infrastructure and the global financial regulation," Working Papers 16/19, BBVA Bank, Economic Research Department.
    10. Daniel Wurstbauer & Wolfgang Schäfers, 2015. "Inflation hedging and protection characteristics of infrastructure and real estate assets," Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(1), pages 19-44, February.
    11. Wouter Thierie & Lieven Moor, 2016. "The characteristics of infrastructure as an investment class," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 30(3), pages 277-297, August.
    12. Frédéric Blanc-Brude & Timothy Whittaker & Simon Wilde, 2017. "Searching for a listed infrastructure asset class using mean–variance spanning," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 31(2), pages 137-179, May.
    13. Gireesh Shrimali, 2021. "Financial Performance of Renewable and Fossil Power Sources in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-23, February.
    14. Surbhi Gupta & Anil Kumar Sharma, 2022. "Evolution of infrastructure as an asset class: a systematic literature review and thematic analysis," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(3), pages 173-200, May.
    15. Emanuele Rossi & Rok Stepic, 2015. "Infrastructure Project Finance and Project Bonds in Europe," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-52404-1, December.
    16. Daniel Wurstbauer & Stephan Lang & Christoph Rothballer & Wolfgang Schaefers, 2016. "Can common risk factors explain infrastructure equity returns? Evidence from European capital markets," Journal of Property Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 97-120, April.
    17. Graeme Newell, 2021. "Future research opportunities for Asian real estate," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 272-290, April.
    18. Nadine Gatzert & Thomas Kosub, 2017. "The Impact of European Initiatives on the Treatment of Insurers’ Infrastructure Investments Under Solvency II," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 42(4), pages 708-731, October.
    19. Zura Kakushadze & Juan Andrés Serur, 2018. "151 Trading Strategies," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-02792-6, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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