Agents’ Preferences, the Equity Premium, and the Consumption-Saving Trade-Off: An Application to French Data

Author/Editor:

Aude Pommeret ; Anne Epaulard

Publication Date:

August 1, 2001

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper aims to measure the risk premium on French equities during 1960-92 and to evaluate how well theoretical models based on various representations of agents' preferences can explain it. Aside from the standard, time-additive utility function with constant relative risk aversion, three other utility functions are reviewed: a recursive utility function, a habit formation utility function, and a utility function that accounts for the interdependence of preferences. Both calibration and econometric estimations show that none of the studied marginal changes in the representation of agents' preferences are sufficient to solve both the equity premium puzzle and the risk-free rate puzzle.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2001/117

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

August 1, 2001

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451854015/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1172001

Pages:

36

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