August 2000
Yakov Amihud
ABSTRACT
New tests are presented on the effects of stock illiquidity on stock return. Over time, expected market illiquidity
positively affects ex ante stock excess return (usually called “risk premium”). This complements the positive cross-sectional
return-illiquidity relationship. The illiquidity measure here is the average daily ratio of absolute stock return
to dollar volume, which is easily obtained from daily stock data for long time series in most stock markets. Illiquidity
affects more strongly small firms stocks, suggesting an explanation for the changes “small firm effect” over time.
The impact of market illiquidity on stock excess return suggests the existence of illiquidity premium and helps
explain the equity premium puzzle.
Yakov Amihud
Institution: Stern School of Business, New York University
Email: yamihud@stern.nyu.edu
Telephone: (212) 998-0720
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