Banks, endogenous network formations and financial crisis. This project aims to understand how endogenous network formations affect financial crisis and how such situations can be made into a coherent microeconomic model of financial network formations using modern tools in economics. The project intends to study the properties of financial systems in the presence of possible financial crisis, conduct applied economic policy analysis and provide policy implications for lifting productivity and e ....Banks, endogenous network formations and financial crisis. This project aims to understand how endogenous network formations affect financial crisis and how such situations can be made into a coherent microeconomic model of financial network formations using modern tools in economics. The project intends to study the properties of financial systems in the presence of possible financial crisis, conduct applied economic policy analysis and provide policy implications for lifting productivity and economic growth. The projects expected outcomes would contribute to the theoretical understanding of financial crisis and consequences in financial markets as well as the economy and public policy. In the longer term, the project should benefit the health of the financial system.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL120100034
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,002,560.00
Summary
Black swans and unknown unknowns: financial markets and their interaction with the macroeconomy in the presence of unanticipated contingencies. Unforeseen contingencies, also called 'black swans' or 'unknown unknowns' pose serious difficulties for decisionmakers. This project will examine how financial regulation can be improved to reduce the vulnerability of the financial system and the macroeconomy to unforeseen shocks.
Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds ....Hedge Funds in Superannuation Portfolios: Are the Returns Worth the Risks? In recent years superannuation funds have delivered negative returns to members due to poorly performing stockmarkets. In striving to achieve higher rates of return, superannuation trustees have commenced allocating retirement savings to a new type of investment opportunity, termed hedge funds. There is a paucity of research about this new type of investment, particularly relating to the non-linear nature of hedge funds returns. This study will investigate the risk and return trade-off of including hedge funds in superannuation portfolios and provide trustees with empirical tools to determine the optimal allocation to hedge funds.Read moreRead less
Modelling the Risk of Defined Contribution Superannuation Plans. The provision of retirement income is undergoing significant change - a shift from unfunded social security towards private funding and, within the privately funded sector, a shift from defined-benefit (DB) to defined-contribution (DC) plans. The research will develop a new framework, based on stochastic simulation, to undertake innovative critical analyses of the riskiness of DC superannuation plans. It extends existing work by ....Modelling the Risk of Defined Contribution Superannuation Plans. The provision of retirement income is undergoing significant change - a shift from unfunded social security towards private funding and, within the privately funded sector, a shift from defined-benefit (DB) to defined-contribution (DC) plans. The research will develop a new framework, based on stochastic simulation, to undertake innovative critical analyses of the riskiness of DC superannuation plans. It extends existing work by the inclusion of insitutional, regulatory and labour market features of the superannuation system. The results of the research, based on more finite modelling and greater economic accuracy, will be vital in informing retirement policy.Read moreRead less
What do boards do? The measurement of board activity, its impact on firm valuation and board responses to the financial crisis. This study examines what corporate boards do using a novel measurement approach. It is expected that this measure will be widely adopted by industry and academia.
The Management of Asymmetric Risk in a Modern Investment Portfolio. Due to compulsory superannuation legislation, the future lifestyle of all Australians is dependent upon the successful management of investment funds. A large component of funds management is risk management. This project will generate practical management tools to enable portfolio managers to significantly enhance their risk-management strategies. A direct link between risk management and performance drives funds managers to ....The Management of Asymmetric Risk in a Modern Investment Portfolio. Due to compulsory superannuation legislation, the future lifestyle of all Australians is dependent upon the successful management of investment funds. A large component of funds management is risk management. This project will generate practical management tools to enable portfolio managers to significantly enhance their risk-management strategies. A direct link between risk management and performance drives funds managers to carefully manage their risk exposure. Any developments that reduce the risk of a portfolio will ultimately enhance portfolio returns. Higher returns on superannuation investments will result in an improved future standard of living for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Validation Of A Competency Assessment Method For Persons With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,451.00
Summary
Deciding what if any aspects of their financial affairs a person with dementia or suspected dementia can responsibly manage is a difficult process for health and legal professionals as well as for guardianship boards and tribunals. This process is often stressful for the older person, and families can find deciding when to “take over” stressful. Also, having family members manage the older person’s assets may result in family conflict. There is a small amount of overseas research examining this ....Deciding what if any aspects of their financial affairs a person with dementia or suspected dementia can responsibly manage is a difficult process for health and legal professionals as well as for guardianship boards and tribunals. This process is often stressful for the older person, and families can find deciding when to “take over” stressful. Also, having family members manage the older person’s assets may result in family conflict. There is a small amount of overseas research examining this issue. However, no comprehensive and validated method exists internationally or in Australia to determine competency in this context. We will test a methodology for assessing the capacity of individuals to manage their own financial affairs where dementia is an issue. This method involves the use of a number of reliable and well-validated instruments measuring the older person’s mental state, anxiety levels, depression, and social vulnerability combined with an interview exploring the personal circumstances of the older adult in relation to their financial affairs. We will work with the Office of the Adult Guardian in Queensland to recruit participants and to verify both the utility and usability of our methodology with stakeholders (e.g. solicitors, the Office of the Adult Guardian). A comparison will be made between the results obtained in approximately 200 financial competency cases with the competency opinions independently arrived at by the Office of the Adult Guardian in Queensland. As a result of this research, we will be able to ascertain the viability and utility of this assessment method, improve the method as per the data gathered, and ultimately seek future funding to trial the methods across multiple jurisdictions (e.g. other states) and contexts (e.g. various cultural contexts).Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101270
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The behavioural birthdate effect: the impact of relative position within cohorts on risk aversion, self-confidence and aspiration levels. The 'birthdate effect' describes the phenomenon where children born just after the school entry cut off date are more successful in life than those born just before. This project will study why these children make very different life choices, those born just after the cut-off date are expected to take greater risks and have higher self esteem.
Strengthening the Role of Financial Disclosure in the Governance of Superannuation Funds. This project will provide evidence about the usefulness of superannuation fund financial reports and whether funds are disclosing unbiased measures of their financial position and performance. This evidence will directly assist regulators in their deliberations in reforming accounting standards and other disclosure regulation governing superannuation fund financial reporting. Such reforms are necessary to e ....Strengthening the Role of Financial Disclosure in the Governance of Superannuation Funds. This project will provide evidence about the usefulness of superannuation fund financial reports and whether funds are disclosing unbiased measures of their financial position and performance. This evidence will directly assist regulators in their deliberations in reforming accounting standards and other disclosure regulation governing superannuation fund financial reporting. Such reforms are necessary to ensure that all Australians in superannuation funds have access to relevant, reliable and comparable financial information to facilitate full accountability of superannuation fund trustees and informed decision making by stakeholders, and in turn, enhance the security of superannuation savings and maximise retirement incomes.Read moreRead less
An econometric investigation of technical analysis as a portfolio selection strategy in Australia. This project will provide an in-depth analysis of the returns of portfolios of Australian equities formed by using technical trading rules. The research will determine whether or not any abnormal returns earned by these means are attributable to firm-specific or market-wide factors. This project represents the first attempt to interpret technical analysis in a portfolio framework and will provide v ....An econometric investigation of technical analysis as a portfolio selection strategy in Australia. This project will provide an in-depth analysis of the returns of portfolios of Australian equities formed by using technical trading rules. The research will determine whether or not any abnormal returns earned by these means are attributable to firm-specific or market-wide factors. This project represents the first attempt to interpret technical analysis in a portfolio framework and will provide valuable information on the informational efficiency of Australian capital markets. As there is currently no single definitive study of technical analysis in Australia, this project will fill a significant void in the current academic literature and provide evidence of great practical relevance to Australian investment practitioners.Read moreRead less