Stochastic Dominance (eBook)

This book is devoted to investment decision-making under uncertainty. The book covers three basic approaches to this process: the stochastic dominance approach; the mean-variance approach; and the non-expected utility approach, focusing on prospect theory and its modified version, cumulative prospect theory. Each approach is discussed and compared. In addition, this volume examines cases in which stochastic dominance rules coincide with the mean-variance rule and considers how contradictions between these two approaches may occur.

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This second edition of Stochastic Dominance is devoted to investment decision- making under uncertainty. The book covers four basic approaches to this process: a) The stochastic dominance (SD) approach, developed on the foundation of von-Neumann and Morgenstem^ expected utiHty paradigm. b) The mean-variance approach developed by Markowitz^ on the foundation of von-Neumann and Morgenstern's expected utility or simply on the assumption of a utility function based on mean and variance. c) The "e;almost"e; stochastic dominance (ASD) rules and the "e;almost"e; me- variance rule (AMV). No matter whether one employs objective or subjective probabilities, the common stochastic dominance criteria and the mean variance rule may lead to paradoxes: they are unable to rank prospect A w^hich yields $1 with a probability of 0.01 and a million dollars with probability of 0.99, and prospect B which yields $2 with certainty. This is an absurdity as in any sample of subjects one takes, 100% of subjects choose A. The "e;almost"e; stochastic dominance criteria and "e;almost"e; mean variance rule, which have been recently been developed by Leshno and Levy in 2002^, suggest a remedy to such paradoxes.