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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.

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  • , & ,, 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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    7. 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. Amnon Schreiber, 2012. "An Economic Index of Relative Riskiness," Discussion Paper Series dp597, The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ehsani, Sina & Lien, Donald, 2015. "A note on minimum riskiness hedge ratio," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 11-17.
    2. Chamorro Elosua, Arritokieta & Usategui Díaz de Otalora, José María, 2013. "A Note on Risk Acceptance, Bankruptcy Avoidance and Riskiness Measures," DFAEII Working Papers 1988-088X, University of the Basque Country - Department of Foundations of Economic Analysis II.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Jiro Hodoshima & Toshiyuki Yamawake, 2021. "Sensitivity of Performance Indexes to Disaster Risk," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-22, February.
    6. Heller, Yuval & Schreiber, Amnon, 2020. "Short-term investments and indices of risk," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 15(3), July.
    7. 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.
    8. 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).
    9. Leiss, Matthias & Nax, Heinrich H., 2018. "Option-implied objective measures of market risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 241-249.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Yuval Heller & Amnon Schreiber, 2020. "Short-Term Investments and Indices of Risk," Papers 2005.06576, arXiv.org.
    15. Usategui, José M., 2017. "Riskiness in binary gambles: A geometric analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 149-152.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk measures; operational; bankruptcy; continuous random variable;
    All these keywords.

    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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