JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
Empirical Problems Using the Efficient Frontier to Find
Optimal Weights in Asset Classes
Author(s): Matt Maher, Harry White, Phil Fry
Citation: Matt Maher, Harry White, Phil Fry, (2011) "Empirical Problems Using the Efficient Frontier to Find Optimal Weights in Asset Classes" Vol. 11, Iss. 4, pp. 47 - 62
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
This study documents the transitory nature of “efficient” weights in six commonly employed asset classes, going beyond a simple stock and bond classes and using a 30 year data window. We review the literature on asset class diversification, including its failures during the recent credit crisis. Results show that asset class diversification benefits are inconsistent and, contrary to common academic wisdom before recent times, historical asset class covariances (even estimated with decades of data) are poor estimates of future values.