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Contrasts Between Classes of Assets in Fixed Investment Equations as a Way of Testing Real Option Theory

Author

Listed:
  • Ciaran Driver

    (Tanaka Business School, Imperial College, London)

  • Paul Temple

    (University of Surrey)

  • Giovanni Urga

    (Cass Business School, London)

Abstract

This paper tests the power of real options theory to explain investment under uncertainty, exploiting differences in the degree of irreversibility between machinery and buildings. It reports estimates of investment equations for each asset class using a large sample of UK manufacturing industries, with results that are consistent with the predictions of real options theory. Additionally, using a specially constructed industryspecific measure of irreversibility for machinery investment, the paper provides further confirmation of the empirical relevance of real options.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciaran Driver & Paul Temple & Giovanni Urga, 2005. "Contrasts Between Classes of Assets in Fixed Investment Equations as a Way of Testing Real Option Theory," School of Economics Discussion Papers 0805, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    • Handle: RePEc:sur:surrec:0805
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    File URL: https://repec.som.surrey.ac.uk/2005/DP08-05.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investment; Irreversibility; Real Options; Uncertainty; Panel Data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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