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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Limits of Arbitrage: The State of the Theory

Author(s): Denis Gromb and Dimitri Vayanos

Publication Date: March 2010

Keyword(s): financial constraints, financial institutions, limits of arbitrage, liquidity, market anomalies and survey

Programme Area(s): Financial Economics

Abstract: We survey theoretical developments in the literature on the limits of arbitrage. This literature investigates how costs faced by arbitrageurs can prevent them from eliminating mispricings and providing liquidity to other investors. Research in this area is currently evolving into a broader agenda emphasizing the role of financial institutions and agency frictions for asset prices. This research has the potential to explain so-called "market anomalies" and inform welfare and policy debates about asset markets. We begin with examples of demand shocks that generate mispricings, arguing that they can stem from behavioral or from institutional considerations. We next survey, and nest within a simple model, the following costs faced by arbitrageurs: (i) risk, both fundamental and non-fundamental, (ii) short-selling costs, (iii) leverage and margin constraints, and (iv) constraints on equity capital. We finally discuss implications for welfare and policy, and suggest directions for future research.

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Bibliographic Reference

Gromb, D and Vayanos, D. 2010. 'Limits of Arbitrage: The State of the Theory'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=7738