Download This PaperOn the Economic Consequences of Index-Linked Investing
CHALLENGES TO BUSINESSES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: THE WAY FORWARD, W.T. Allen, R. Khurana, J. Lorsch, G. Rosenfeld, eds., 2010
27 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2010
There are 3 versions of this paper
On the Economic Consequences of Index-Linked Investing
On the Economic Consequences of Index-Linked Investing
On the Economic Consequences of Index-Linked Investing
Date Written: July 24, 2010
Abstract
Trillions of dollars are invested through index funds, exchange-traded funds, and other index derivatives. The benefits of index-linked investing are well-known, but the possible broader economic consequences are unstudied. I review research which suggests that index-linked investing is distorting stock prices and risk-return tradeoffs, which in turn may be distorting corporate investment and financing decisions, investor portfolio allocation decisions, fund manager skill assessments, and other choices and measures. These effects may intensify as index-linked investing continues to grow in popularity.
Keywords: indexing, index fund, ETF, comovement
JEL Classification: G11, G12, G14, G23, G31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Jeffrey A. Wurgler (Contact Author)
NYU Stern School of Business ( email )
Stern School of Business
44 West 4th Street, Suite 9-190
New York, NY 10012-1126
United States
212-998-0367 (Phone)
212-995-4233 (Fax)
HOME PAGE: http://www.stern.nyu.edu/~jwurgler/