RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Embracing Downside Risk JF The Journal of Alternative Investments FD Institutional Investor Journals SP 59 OP 67 DO 10.3905/jai.2017.19.3.059 VO 19 IS 3 A1 Roni Israelov A1 Lars N. Nielsen A1 Daniel Villalon YR 2016 UL https://pm-research.com/content/19/3/59.abstract AB It is well known that investors have asymmetric risk preferences when it comes to bearing downside risk versus participating in the upside. Options markets provide a useful and intuitive way to quantify these asymmetric preferences by way of the returns associated with being on either side. The authors show this using equity index options and find that most of the empirical equity risk premium reflects compensation for downside riskā€”in fact, upside participation earned little reward in the long run, reflecting an extreme asymmetry that might be surprising to some investors. The analysis is extended to other asset classes to show similar (albeit in some cases weaker) results. Data and economic theory suggest that investors who attempt to deal with downside risk by being long options should expect to underperform.TOPICS: Risk management, options, performance measurement