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Random walk theory and the weak-form efficiency of the US art auction prices

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  • Erdos, Péter
  • Ormos, Mihály

Abstract

We perform variance ratio tests based on non-parametric methods to detect the size of the random walk component of the US art auction prices. The past 134 years of the US art prices exhibit large transitory component (72%) and based on this, the random walk hypothesis does not hold. However, possibly due to sparse data before 1935 or due to institutional changes of the art market after World War II, we detect structural breakpoints and find that the random walk hypothesis and the weak-form efficiency of the US art market cannot be rejected at least for the past 64 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Erdos, Péter & Ormos, Mihály, 2010. "Random walk theory and the weak-form efficiency of the US art auction prices," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1062-1076, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:34:y:2010:i:5:p:1062-1076
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    3. David, Géraldine & Oosterlinck, Kim & Szafarz, Ariane, 2013. "Art market inefficiency," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 121(1), pages 23-25.
    4. Goodness C. Aye & Tsangyao Chang & Wen-Yi Chen & Rangan Gupta & Mark Wohar, 2016. "Testing the Efficiency of the Art Market using Quantile-Based Unit Root Tests with Sharp and Smooth Breaks," Working Papers 201625, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    5. Aye, Goodness C. & Gil-Alana, Luis A. & Gupta, Rangan & Wohar, Mark E., 2017. "The efficiency of the art market: Evidence from variance ratio tests, linear and nonlinear fractional integration approaches," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 283-294.
    6. David, Geraldine, 2016. "Art as an investment in a historical perspective," Other publications TiSEM 2361da4b-d827-4cae-91ce-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Chuluun, Tuugi & Eun, Cheol S. & Kiliç, Rehim, 2011. "Investment intensity of currencies and the random walk hypothesis: Cross-currency evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 372-387, February.
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    9. Janet Jyothi Dsouza & T. Mallikarjunappa, 2015. "Does the Indian Stock Market Exhibit Random Walk?," Paradigm, , vol. 19(1), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Assaf, Ata & Kristoufek, Ladislav & Demir, Ender & Kumar Mitra, Subrata, 2021. "Market efficiency in the art markets using a combination of long memory, fractal dimension, and approximate entropy measures," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Emmanuel Joel Aikins Abakah & Aviral Kumar Tiwari & Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur & Luis Alberiko Gil-Alana, 2023. "The influence of economic policy uncertainty shocks on art market," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(29), pages 3404-3421, June.
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