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Highlights
- Zero Risk Premium: A fair game investment offers no additional return for taking on risk.
- Pure Chance Outcome: The expected return is equal to the risk-free rate, making gains unpredictable.
- No Investor Advantage: Since no extra compensation exists, investors must rely solely on luck.
Investors are constantly seeking opportunities that maximize returns while minimizing risk. However, in the world of finance, there exists a unique category of investments known as "fair game" investments. These are financial prospects that come with a zero risk premium, meaning they do not provide any additional return for the risk undertaken.
To understand the concept better, the risk premium is the extra return that an investor expects for taking on risk beyond a risk-free asset, such as government bonds. In a fair game scenario, this premium is non-existent. The expected return on such an investment is equal to the risk-free rate, making it a pure gamble where the likelihood of gains or losses is evenly distributed.
The nature of fair game investments makes them unsuitable for risk-averse investors. Since there is no compensation for the uncertainty involved, rational investors typically avoid them unless they are willing to engage purely for speculative reasons. In contrast, investments with a positive risk premium, such as stocks or corporate bonds, offer higher expected returns to justify the additional risk.
One common example of a fair game investment is certain forms of short-term speculative trading, where the expected return is no higher than simply holding cash. Without an edge, an investor entering such a trade neither gains nor loses in the long run, except for transaction costs.
Conclusion
A fair game investment presents an intriguing yet impractical choice for most investors. Without the allure of a risk premium, it becomes a game of chance rather than a strategic financial decision. Investors seeking long-term wealth accumulation are better off pursuing assets that compensate them for the risks they take.
