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On the economic significance of the benchmark portfolio

Author

Listed:
  • G. Glenn Baigent

    (College of Management, Long Island University -C. W. Post.)

  • William Acar

    (Kent State University)

Abstract

Abasic issue underlying financial theory is the constitution of the market portfolio. Hence the adequacy of its usual proxy, the S&P500, is of paramount importance. Using 17 industry portfolios, we form an equally-weighted (passive) portfolio statistically identical to the S&P500 with respect to volatility. We find that, about half the time, the industry portfolio has higher returns than the S&P500. We offer this as an explanation for the flatness of the CAPM noted and questioned in early studies by Basu (1977), Black, Jensen and Scholes (1972), and Reinganum (1981). We suggest that the partial inefficiency of the S&P500 is laden with serious implications for investors and portfolio managers, question the behavioral motivation for its continued use as a benchmark, and introduce new measures of full diversification. We estimate a Jensen’s Alpha error of 2.04% associated with the wrong proxy for the market portfolio.

Suggested Citation

  • G. Glenn Baigent & William Acar, 2015. "On the economic significance of the benchmark portfolio," Journal of Economic and Financial Studies (JEFS), LAR Center Press, vol. 3(6), pages 16-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:lrc:lareco:v:3:y:2015:i:6:p:16-25
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fama, Eugene F & French, Kenneth R, 1992. "The Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 47(2), pages 427-465, June.
    2. Athanasoulis, Stefano G & Shiller, Robert J, 2000. "The Significance of the Market Portfolio," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 13(2), pages 301-329.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CAPM; Market portfolio; Investment strategy.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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