Time-Varying Risk Aversion in the Cross-Section of Mutual Fund Flows

23 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2012

Date Written: June 19, 2012

Abstract

Analyzing cross sectional determinants of fund flows, this study finds evidence that investors’ risk aversion is time-varying. In particular, the periods over which the increases in risk aversion are observed are associated with contemporaneously low market returns, suggesting that increases in aggregate risk aversion increases the discount rate thereby lowering market prices. While the relation is more pronounced across equity funds, a marginally significant increase in risk-aversion during periods of low bond returns was also observed. Furthermore, the study finds that bond investors are generally more risk averse than equity investors, and that equity and bond investors engage in comparatively less performance chasing during periods with low market returns. This study adds to the growing body of research, which suggests that risk-aversion and consequently risk premia are time-varying, providing a risk-based explanation for phenomena such as long-run stock return predictability.

Keywords: Fund flows, Risk aversion, Mutual funds, Time-varying risk aversion

Suggested Citation

Straehl, Philip U., Time-Varying Risk Aversion in the Cross-Section of Mutual Fund Flows (June 19, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2128653 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2128653

Philip U. Straehl (Contact Author)

Morningstar Investment Management ( email )

22 W Washington
Chicago, IL 60602
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
194
Abstract Views
1,085
Rank
282,417
PlumX Metrics