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A Test of the Modigliani‐Miller Invariance Theorem and Arbitrage in Experimental Asset Markets

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  • GARY CHARNESS
  • TIBOR NEUGEBAUER

Abstract

Modigliani and Miller show that the total market value of a firm is unaffected by a repackaging of asset return streams to equity and debt if pricing is arbitrage‐free. We investigate this invariance theorem in experimental asset markets, finding value‐invariance for assets of identical risks when returns are perfectly correlated. However, exploiting price discrepancies has risk when returns have the same expected value but are uncorrelated, in which case the law of one price is violated. Discrepancies shrink in consecutive markets, but persist even with experienced traders. In markets where overall trader acuity is high, assets trade closer to parity.

Suggested Citation

  • Gary Charness & Tibor Neugebauer, 2019. "A Test of the Modigliani‐Miller Invariance Theorem and Arbitrage in Experimental Asset Markets," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 74(1), pages 493-529, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:74:y:2019:i:1:p:493-529
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.12736
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    Cited by:

    1. Duffy, John & Rabanal, Jean Paul & Rud, Olga A., 2021. "The impact of ETFs in secondary asset markets: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 674-696.
    2. Roger, Tristan & Roger, Patrick & Willinger, Marc, 2022. "Number sense, trading decisions and mispricing: An experiment," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. Sascha Füllbrunn & Tibor Neugebauer & Andreas Nicklisch, 2020. "Underpricing of initial public offerings in experimental asset markets," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 23(4), pages 1002-1029, December.
    4. Te Bao & Edward Halim & Charles N. Noussair & Yohanes E. Riyanto, 2021. "Managerial incentives and stock price dynamics: an experimental approach," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(2), pages 617-648, June.
    5. Duan, Jieyi & Hanaki, Nobuyuki, 2023. "The impact of asset purchases in an experimental market with consumption smoothing motives," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Neugebauer, Tibor & Shachat, Jason & Szymczak, Wiebke, 2023. "A test of the Modigliani-Miller theorem, dividend policy and algorithmic arbitrage in experimental asset markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Angerer, Martin & Neugebauer, Tibor & Shachat, Jason, 2023. "Arbitrage bots in experimental asset markets," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 262-278.
    8. Borgonovo, Emanuele & Caselli, Stefano & Cillo, Alessandra & Masciandaro, Donato & Rabitti, Giovanni, 2021. "Money, privacy, anonymity: What do experiments tell us?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    9. Duffy, John & Rabanal, Jean Paul & Rud, Olga A., 2023. "Market reactions to stock splits: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 325-345.
    10. Zhengyang Bao & Andreas Leibbrandt & ple391, 2019. "Thar she resurges: The case of assets that lack positive fundamental value," Monash Economics Working Papers 12-19, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    11. Enrica Carbone & John Hey & Tibor Neugebauer, 2021. "An Experimental Comparison of Two Exchange Economies: Long-Lived Asset vs. Short-Lived Asset," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(11), pages 6946-6962, November.
    12. Nicolas Eber & Patrick Roger & Tristan Roger, 2024. "Finance and intelligence: An overview of the literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 503-554, April.
    13. Arturo Macias, 2022. "Capital structure irrelevance in the laboratory: an experiment with complete and asymmetric information," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(5), pages 1418-1440, November.
    14. Marquardt, Philipp & Noussair, Charles N & Weber, Martin, 2019. "Rational expectations in an experimental asset market with shocks to market trends," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 116-140.
    15. Jieyi Duan & Nobuyuki Hanaki, 2021. "The impact of asset purchases in an experimental market with consumption smoothing motives," ISER Discussion Paper 1147, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    16. Lucy F. Ackert & Brian D. Kluger & Li Qi & Lijia Wei, 2022. "An experimental examination of the flow of irrelevant information across markets," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1119-1148, January.
    17. Kiss, Hubert J. & Kóczy, László Á. & Pintér, Ágnes & Sziklai, Balázs R., 2022. "Does risk sorting explain overpricing in experimental asset markets?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    18. Füllbrunn, Sascha & Neugebauer, Tibor, 2022. "Testing market regulations in experimental asset markets – The case of margin purchases," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1160-1183.

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