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Discount rates, market frictions and the mystery of the size premium

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  • Thiago de Oliveira Souza

Abstract

I document the empirical evidence showing that the size premium only exists when the median book-to-market ratios in the market is high. I argue that this evidence supports the hypothesis that the size effect is a consequence of market frictions and not a risk factor priced in equilibrium. High discount rates lower stock valuations and increase the overall book-to-market ratios in the market. They are also associated with the low risk bearing capacity, limited risk sharing and high uncertainty that increase market frictions. Ranking the years in book-to-market quantiles, as a proxy for discount rates, reveals that the size premium is usually statistically significant exclusively in the top book-to-market quantile. This evidence is robust to changes in the number of quantiles; in the US in different sub periods, and in the UK; considering both the Fama/French SMB factor or the individual size portfolios; and also controlling for market risk.

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  • Thiago de Oliveira Souza, 2013. "Discount rates, market frictions and the mystery of the size premium," 2013 Papers pde868, Job Market Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:jmp:jm2013:pde868
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    1. Philipp J. Kremer & Andreea Talmaciu & Sandra Paterlini, 2018. "Risk minimization in multi-factor portfolios: What is the best strategy?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 266(1), pages 255-291, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • 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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