JEL Code
G12, G31, M21
Abstract
This article is based on a review of 150 textbooks on corporate finance and valuation published between 1979 and 2009 by authors such as Brealey, Myers, Copeland, Damodaran, Merton, Ross, Bruner, Bodie, Penman, Arzac etc. Analysis of the sample shows that the books’ recommendations regarding the equity premium range from 3% to 10%, and that 51 books use different equity premia on various pages. Moreover, the 5-year moving average is seen to have declined from 8.4% in 1990 to 5.7% in 2008 and 2009.
Some confusion arises from not distinguishing among the four concepts that the phrase equity premium designates: the Historical, the Expected, the Implied and the Required equity premium (incremental return of a diversified portfolio over the risk-free rate required by an investor). 129 of the books identify Expected and Required equity premium and 82 identify Expected and Historical equity premium.
The author concludes that finance textbooks should clarify the equity premium by incorporating distinguishing definitions of the four different concepts and conveying a clearer message about their sensible magnitudes
Recommended Citation
Fernandez, Pablo
(2020)
"The Equity Premium in 150 Textbooks,"
Journal of New Finance: Vol. 1:
No.
3, Article 3.
DOI: 10.46671/2521-2486.1009
Available at:
https://jnf.ufm.edu/journal/vol1/iss3/3
Submission Date
November 2020
Approval Date
12-12-2020
Publication Date
12-15-2020