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The Foster-Hart measure of riskiness for general gambles

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  • ,

    (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University)

  • ,

    (Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University)

Abstract

Foster and Hart propose a measure of riskiness for discrete random variables. Their defining equation has no solution for many common continuous distributions. We show how to extend consistently the definition of riskiness to continuous random variables. For many continuous random variables, the risk measure is equal to the worst--case risk measure, i.e. the maximal possible loss incurred by that gamble. For many discrete gambles with a large number of values, the Foster--Hart riskiness is close to the maximal loss. We give a simple characterization of gambles whose riskiness is or is close to the maximal loss.

Suggested Citation

  • , & ,, 2015. "The Foster-Hart measure of riskiness for general gambles," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 10(1), January.
    • Handle: RePEc:the:publsh:1499
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert J. Aumann & Roberto Serrano, 2008. "An Economic Index of Riskiness," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(5), pages 810-836, October.
    2. Hellmann, Tobias & Riedel, Frank, 2015. "A dynamic extension of the Foster–Hart measure of riskiness," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 66-70.
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    10. , P. & ,, 2013. "A wealth-requirement axiomatization of riskiness," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 8(2), May.
    11. Homm, Ulrich & Pigorsch, Christian, 2012. "An operational interpretation and existence of the Aumann–Serrano index of riskiness," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 114(3), pages 265-267.
    12. Hans Föllmer & Alexander Schied, 2002. "Convex measures of risk and trading constraints," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 6(4), pages 429-447.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Abhinav Anand & Tiantian Li & Tetsuo Kurosaki & Young Shin Kim, 2017. "The equity risk posed by the too-big-to-fail banks: a Foster–Hart estimation," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 253(1), pages 21-41, June.
    3. Jiro Hodoshima & Toshiyuki Yamawake, 2021. "Sensitivity of Performance Indexes to Disaster Risk," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Heller, Yuval & Schreiber, Amnon, 2020. "Short-term investments and indices of risk," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 15(3), July.
    5. Leiss, Matthias & Nax, Heinrich H., 2018. "Option-implied objective measures of market risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 241-249.
    6. Soo Hong Chew & Jacob S. Sagi, 2022. "A critical look at the Aumann-Serrano and Foster-Hart measures of riskiness," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 74(2), pages 397-422, September.
    7. Jiro Hodoshima & Tetsuya Misawa & Yoshio Miyahara, 2020. "Stock Performance Evaluation Incorporating High Moments and Disaster Risk: Evidence from Japan," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 27(2), pages 155-174, June.
    8. Usategui, José M., 2017. "Riskiness in binary gambles: A geometric analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 149-152.
    9. Ehsani, Sina & Lien, Donald, 2015. "A note on minimum riskiness hedge ratio," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 11-17.
    10. Hellmann, Tobias & Riedel, Frank, 2015. "A dynamic extension of the Foster–Hart measure of riskiness," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 66-70.
    11. Hodoshima, Jiro & Yamawake, Toshiyuki, 2022. "Temporal aggregation of the Aumann–Serrano and Foster–Hart performance indexes," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    12. Jiro Hodoshima & Toshiyuki Yamawake, 2022. "Comparing Dynamic and Static Performance Indexes in the Stock Market: Evidence From Japan," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 29(2), pages 171-193, June.
    13. Anand, Abhinav & Li, Tiantian & Kurosaki, Tetsuo & Kim, Young Shin, 2016. "Foster–Hart optimal portfolios," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 117-130.
    14. Niu, Cuizhen & Guo, Xu & McAleer, Michael & Wong, Wing-Keung, 2018. "Theory and application of an economic performance measure of risk," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 383-396.
    15. Marilyn Pease & Mark Whitmeyer, 2024. "How to Make an Action Better," Papers 2408.09294, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2025.
    16. Yuval Heller & Amnon Schreiber, 2020. "Short-Term Investments and Indices of Risk," Papers 2005.06576, arXiv.org.
    17. Cui, Zhenyu & Wu, Cai & Zhu, Lingjiong, 2023. "Explicit solution to the economic index of riskiness," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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