An Exploration of the Effects of Pessimism and Doubt on Asset Returns

30 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2001 Last revised: 22 Sep 2022

See all articles by Andrew B. Abel

Andrew B. Abel

University of Pennsylvania - Finance Department; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: February 2001

Abstract

The subjective distribution of growth rates of aggregate consumption is characterized by pessimism if it is first-order stochastically dominated by the objective distribution. Uniform pessimism is a leftward translation of the objective distribution of the logarithm of the growth rate. The subjective distribution is characterized by doubt if it is mean-preserving spread of the objective distribution. Pessimism and doubt both reduce the riskfree rate and thus can help resolve the riskfree rate puzzle. Uniform pessimism and doubt both increase the average equity premium and thus can help resolve the equity premium puzzle.

Suggested Citation

Abel, Andrew B., An Exploration of the Effects of Pessimism and Doubt on Asset Returns (February 2001). NBER Working Paper No. w8132, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=260545

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