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Multivariate risk aversion utility, application to ESG investments

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  • Escobar-Anel, Marcos

Abstract

This paper uses the concept of multivariate or multi-attributive utility to attach different risk aversion levels to different sources of wealth (e.g. sectors, stocks, asset classes). In this context, we address the topic of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investments from the perspective of an investor with different risk aversion levels to green and brown stocks. We obtain closed-form solutions for the optimal allocations, value function, and wealth equivalent losses (WEL) from suboptimal choices. The numerical analysis demonstrates the significant increase, of up to 33%, in green investments when accounting for a differential in risk aversions levels, with up to 65% in WEL when using same risk-aversion levels.11We deeply thank anonymous reviewers and journal’s leadership for very interesting suggestions on relevant papers, keywords, and ideas that have enriched this work.

Suggested Citation

  • Escobar-Anel, Marcos, 2022. "Multivariate risk aversion utility, application to ESG investments," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:63:y:2022:i:c:s1062940822001280
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2022.101790
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Renzhong & Fei, Chen & Fei, Weiyin, 2025. "Impact of government’s support policy on decision-making of platform participants under ESG," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(PA).
    2. Wen, Limin & Li, Junxue & Sheng, Jiliang & Zhang, Yi, 2025. "Active portfolio management in the face of ESG uncertainty: An agile framework for adaptive investment strategies," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(PA).
    3. Marcos Escobar-Anel & Yiyao Jiao, 2024. "Robust Portfolio Optimization with Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Preference," Risks, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-29, February.
    4. Yundong Huang, 2025. "Exploring the Principle of Multi-Dimensional Risk Analysis and a Case Study in Two-Dimensional Risk," Risks, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, April.
    5. Yin, Zhujia & Deng, Rantian & Xia, Jiejin & Zhao, Lili, 2024. "Climate risk and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Marcos Escobar-Anel & Yiyao Jiao, 2023. "Unraveling the Trade-off between Sustainability and Returns: A Multivariate Utility Analysis," Papers 2307.12161, arXiv.org.
    7. Aydin Aslan & Peter N. Posch, 2022. "How Do Investors Value Sustainability? A Utility-Based Preference Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-15, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multiple risk-aversion levels; Multi-attributive utility; Optimal control; Expected Utility Theory; Multivariate utility; HJB equation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • 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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