Value-at-Risk Based Risk Management: Optimal Policies and Asset Prices

38 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2000

See all articles by Suleyman Basak

Suleyman Basak

London Business School; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Alex Shapiro

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 2001

Abstract

This article analyzes optimal, dynamic portfolio and wealth/consumption policies of utility maximizing investors who must also manage market-risk exposure using Value-at-Risk (VaR). We find that VaR risk managers often optimally choose a larger exposure to risky assets than non risk managers, and consequently incur larger losses, when losses occur. We suggest an alternative risk-management model, based on the expectation of a loss, to remedy the shortcomings of VaR. A general-equilibrium analysis reveals that the presence of VaR risk managers amplifies the stock-market volatility at times of down markets and attenuates the volatility at times of up markets.

JEL Classification: G12

Suggested Citation

Basak, Suleyman and Shapiro, Alex, Value-at-Risk Based Risk Management: Optimal Policies and Asset Prices (February 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=204390 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.204390

Suleyman Basak

London Business School ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.suleymanbasak.com

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Alex Shapiro (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Department of Finance ( email )

Stern School of Business
44 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10012-1126
United States
212-998-0362 (Phone)
212-995-4233 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.stern.nyu.edu/~ashapiro/

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