Segmentation and beliefs: A theory of self-fulfilling idiosyncratic risk

Abstract

We study a multi-location general equilibrium model with financial market segmentation that permits self-fulfilling fluctuations. In a precise sense, such fluctuations are most often redistributive, but their volatility varies systematically with an aggregate latent factor. We thus provide a coordination-based microfoundation for time-varying idiosyncratic risk. A key assumption of our analysis is that cash flow growth rates (e.g., firm profit growth, asset dividend growth, or country output growth) rise with valuations. We consider two applications: (i) firm dynamics and their risk factor structure; and (ii) exchange rate disconnect in international macroeconomics.