Attitudes and the risk-return paradox: Prospect theory explanations

Author

Avi Fiegenbaum, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Howard THOMAS, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

3-1988

Abstract

This study attempted to explain Bowman's risk-return paradox in terms of recent research in behavioral decision theory and prospect theory. The research emphasized the role of reference, or target, return levels in analyzing risky choices. For returns below target, a large majority of individuals appear to be risk seeking; for returns above target, a large majority appear to be risk averse. Using extensive COMPUSTAT-based data on U.S. firms, we consistently found a negative risk-return association for firms having returns below target levels and a positive association for firms with returns above target. These results support the basic propositions of prospect theory and are extremely robust within and across industries and for all time periods studied.

Discipline

Corporate Finance | Strategic Management Policy

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Academy of Management Journal

Volume

31

Issue

1

First Page

85

Last Page

106

ISSN

0001-4273

Identifier

10.2307/256499

Publisher

Academy of Management

Citation

Fiegenbaum, Avi and THOMAS, Howard. Attitudes and the risk-return paradox: Prospect theory explanations. (1988). Academy of Management Journal. 31, (1), 85-106.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/1862

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Additional URL

https://www.jstor.org/stable/256499