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Risk Aversion and Technology Portfolios

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  • Guy Meunier

Abstract

This paper analyzes the choice of a technology portfolio by risk-averse firms. Two technologies with random marginal costs are available to produce a homogeneous good. If the risks that are associated with the technologies are correlated, then the firms might invest in a technology with a negative expected return or, conversely, might not invest in a technology with a positive expected return. If the technology with the lower expected cost is riskier than the other technology, then this “low-cost” technology will be eliminated from the firm’s portfolio if the risks are highly correlated. With imperfect competition, the portfolios of firms are different, and the difference in risk tolerance can explain the full specialization of the industry: The less risk-averse firms use the low-cost technology, and the more risk-averse firms use the less risky, higher-cost technology. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

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  • Guy Meunier, 2014. "Risk Aversion and Technology Portfolios," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 44(4), pages 347-365, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:44:y:2014:i:4:p:347-365
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-014-9420-5
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    1. Meunier, Guy, 2013. "Risk aversion and technology mix in an electricity market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 866-874.
    2. Arkadiy V. Sakhartov, 2017. "Economies of Scope, Resource Relatedness, and the Dynamics of Corporate Diversification," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(11), pages 2168-2188, November.

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