By way of Lars Syll, some comments from Robert Shiller on the difference between the obviously true (and not very interesting) version of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis -- "markets are hard to beat)" -- and the obviously false (yet still widely believed) version that markets possess some kind of mysterious and magical wisdom. The latter is probably the most damaging perversion in finance; maybe in all of economics. Shiller's is also my view, but of course, this is not at all a coincidence as I been influenced by many things Shiller has written over the years:
Professor Fama is the father of the modern efficient-markets theory, which says financial prices efficiently incorporate all available information and are in that sense perfect. In contrast, I have argued that the theory makes little sense, except in fairly trivial ways. Of course, prices reflect available information. But they are far from perfect. Along with like-minded colleagues and former students, I emphasize the enormous role played in markets by human error, as documented in a now-established literature called behavioral finance …
Actually, I do not completely oppose the efficient-markets theory. I have been calling it a half-truth. If the theory said nothing more than that it is unlikely that the average amateur investor can get rich quickly by trading in the markets based on publicly available information, the theory would be spot on. I personally believe this, and in my own investing I have avoided trading too much, and have a high level of skepticism about investing tips.
But the theory is commonly thought, at least by enthusiasts, to imply much more. Notably, it has been argued that regular movements in the markets reflect a wisdom that transcends the best understanding of even the top professionals, and that it is hopeless for an ordinary mortal, even with a lifetime of work and preparation, to question pricing. Market prices are esteemed as if they were oracles.
This view grew to dominate much professional thinking in economics, and its implications are dangerous. It is a substantial reason for the economic crisis we have been stuck in for the past five years, for it led authorities in the United States and elsewhere to be complacent about asset mispricing, about growing leverage in financial markets and about the instability of the global system. In fact, markets are not perfect, and really need regulation, much more than Professor Fama’s theories would allow …
Agree, but there are many more misconceptions:
ReplyDelete- That prices are "correct"
- that prices respond to incremental fundamental information
- that , therefore prices will be well-behaved, because after all no incremental information is likely to be earth shattering
- that therefore returns are normally distributed
The whole "theory" is a tautology. It is what it is. Prices obviously reflect the current efforts by investors to make money, their beliefs on how to do so. In reality, investors may hold incorrect beliefs en mass for long periods of time, then suddenly shift - leading to crashes etc. . prices dont incrementally reflect new information, but often when information piles up prices may suddenly move. A large part of market movements is determined by the self-referential indexing phenomenon , coupled with fast traders trying to scalp millicents on a millisecond horizon.
Moreover, there is an implicit assumption in EMH that investors can accurately value stocks based on fundamental information, and can adjust these valuation estimates as new information tricles in. In reality it is very difficult to do so - even within wide ranges. therefore, in reality, what most players do is 'follow the trend" , go with what is working etc. This obviously leads to a lot of herding and crashes up and down.
ReplyDeleteIt often happens that we do not know where to go but here I would like to give credit to Robert Shiller that he's has made it clear. But the teacher also teaches us a way to live & time is the best teacher who has also taught us to use Eukanuba Coupons on time.
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