Why Has Firm-Specific Risk Increased Over Time?

29 Pages Posted: 18 Dec 2004

See all articles by Richard W. Sias

Richard W. Sias

University of Arizona - Department of Finance

James A. Bennett

University of Southern Maine

Date Written: July 5, 2005

Abstract

Firm-specific risk climbed steadily between 1962 and 1999, but fell sharply between 2000 and 2003. We hypothesize that changes in the composition of the market, rather than fundamental changes in the economy or return-generating process, drive these changes in aggregate firm-specific risk over time. Specifically, we posit that three factors are primarily responsible for observed changes in firm-specific risk: changes in the market weights of "riskier" industries, changes in the relative role of small stocks in the market, and measurement error associated with changes in within-industry concentration. Our empirical tests reveal that each of these factors contribute to changes in firm-specific risk. Moreover, our analysis demonstrates that, combined, these three factors largely explain changes in firm-specific risk over the past 40 years.

Keywords: Firm-specific risk, volatility

JEL Classification: G10, G11, G14

Suggested Citation

Sias, Richard W. and Bennett, James A., Why Has Firm-Specific Risk Increased Over Time? (July 5, 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=633484 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.633484

Richard W. Sias (Contact Author)

University of Arizona - Department of Finance ( email )

McClelland Hall
P.O. Box 210108
Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
United States

James A. Bennett

University of Southern Maine ( email )

Portland, ME 04104
United States