Unbiased estimation of expected return using CAPM

Estimation of expected return is required for many financial decisions. For example, an estimate for cost of capital is required for capital budgeting and cost of equity estimates are needed for performance evaluation based on measures such as EVA. Estimates for expected return are often based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which states that expected excess return (expected return minus the risk-free rate) is equal to the asset's sensitivity to the world market portfolio (β) times the risk premium on the “world market portfolio” (the market risk premium). Since the world market portfolio, by definition, contains all assets in the world, it is not observable. As a result, an estimate for expected return is commonly obtained by taking an estimate for β based on some index (as a proxy for the world market portfolio) and an estimate for the market risk premium based on a potentially different index and multiplying them together. In this paper, it is shown that this results in a biased estimate for expected return. This is undesirable since biased estimates lead to misallocation of funds and biased performance measures. It is also shown in this paper that the straightforward procedure suggested by Fama and MacBeth [J. Financ. Econ. 1 (1974) 43] results in an unbiased estimate for expected return. Further from the analysis done, it follows that, for an unbiased estimate, it does not matter what proxy is used, as long as it is used correctly an unbiased estimate for expected return results.     

Inflation dynamics in Kazakhstan1

In January 1992, Kazakhstan initiated a reform programme to move towards market-determined prices. The price liberalization process was characterized by large relative price shifts and an increase in the overall price level towards those observed in market economies. The paper shows how the piecemeal manner in which prices were liberalized resulted in strong relative price variability over a prolonged period of time, against a background of high inflation. Convergence towards international relative and absolute price levels has progressed but is not complete, with prices for energy and services in particular still below market economy levels.     

Self-Efficacy Toward Service, Civic Participation and the Business Student: Scale Development and Validation

This paper presents the development andvalidation of new measurement tools to exploreself-efficacy toward service and toward civicparticipation. We developed and administereda survey to 851 students in an AACSB-accreditedcollege of business at a comprehensive publicuniversity located in the Midwest. Traditionalscale development methodologies plusconfirmatory factor analysis and simultaneousfactor analysis in several populations wereused to analyze both a primary sample and aholdback sample. Results strongly support thevalidity and reliability of the surveyinstrument. Future use for the instrumentincludes verification of the effectiveness ofpedagogies designed to increase self-efficacytoward service and motivation for civicparticipation in business students.     

基于SWOT分析的我国企业年金发展战略选择

企业年金作为养老保障体系中的第二支柱,是基本养老保险的重要补充.企业年金的发展关系到养老保险体制改革能否顺利进行,关系到整个国家经济的健康发展,也关系到人们退休后的生活水平及社会的和谐稳定.本文利用SWOT分析法,具体探讨我国企业年金发展的内部优势与劣势、外部机会与威胁,并提出了相应的战略对策.     

我国社会医疗保险制度改革的难点与对策

随着我国社会医疗保险制度改革的逐渐深入,一些深层次的问题和矛盾也日益凸现,医疗保险统筹基金入不敷出,基本医疗保险保障程度低、覆盖范围有限,单位参保积极性不高,保费筹集困难.针对我国社会医疗保险制度改革中存在的这些难点问题,本文提出了相应的对策建议.     

香山静宜园香山寺相地选址及布局 理法浅析

通过文献分析和实地调研，探索北京静宜园香山寺的历史沿革，分析其相地选址、建筑布局理法，并简述其艺术价值。香山寺坐落于“藏风聚气、背风向阳”的西山东坡山腰的脊线之上，在选址方面充分体现“得体合宜”之相地要领，巧妙地利用了自然的有利生态条件，满足了人居环境的基本需求。香山寺内建筑主要沿中轴布置，起承转合，形成颇具特色的“上宫下寺”的结构，错落的佛殿与自然完美融合，在景观营造方面颇具艺术性。     

Cultural agility and international assignees’ effectiveness in cross‐cultural interactions

While many mutable competencies and immutable personality traits have been shown to have a direct positive relationship with international assignee success, this study examines whether a set of situation‐specific cross‐cultural competencies comprising cultural agility are also related to international assignee success. This study examines whether the combination of three situation‐specific responses to cultural differences (cultural adaptation, cultural minimization and cultural integration) explain any additional variance in supervisor's ratings of international assignee success above and beyond personality and cross‐cultural competencies. To test this hypothesis, supervisor‐rated of assignees’ effectiveness in working with host nationals was regressed on the number of international assignees’ cultural orientations. Controlling for personality and dynamic competencies, the overall model was significant explaining 17 per cent of the total variance. This study provides some preliminary evidence on the importance of expatriates’ possessing the ability to possess concurrent cultural orientations. The HR practices to foster cultural agility are discussed.