Mean–Variance Portfolio Theory

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-148
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjiv Das ◽  
Harry Markowitz ◽  
Jonathan Scheid ◽  
Meir Statman

AbstractWe integrate appealing features of Markowitz’s mean-variance portfolio theory (MVT) and Shefrin and Statman’s behavioral portfolio theory (BPT) into a new mental accounting (MA) framework. Features of the MA framework include an MA structure of portfolios, a definition of risk as the probability of failing to reach the threshold level in each mental account, and attitudes toward risk that vary by account. We demonstrate a mathematical equivalence between MVT, MA, and risk management using value at risk (VaR). The aggregate allocation across MA subportfolios is mean-variance efficient with short selling. Short-selling constraints on mental accounts impose very minor reductions in certainty equivalents, only if binding for the aggregate portfolio, offsetting utility losses from errors in specifying risk-aversion coefficients in MVT applications. These generalizations of MVT and BPT via a unified MA framework result in a fruitful connection between investor consumption goals and portfolio production.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 91-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kuhn ◽  
Panos Parpas ◽  
Berç Rustem ◽  
Raquel Fonseca

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