Complexity, Risk, and Financial Markets (eBook)

Edgar E. Peters (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2001
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-0-471-43709-3 (ISBN)

Infos

A groundbreaking look at complexity theory and its implications in the world of finance
Complexity theory tells us that processes with a large number of seemingly independent agents-such as free markets-can spontaneously organize themselves into a coherent system. In this fascinating book, Edgar Peters brings together scientific theory, the artistic process, and economics to show how the randomness and uncertainty of complexity theory can be applied to financial markets. Written in an engaging and accessible style, this is a thoughtful, conceptual look at the way free markets are, by their nature, continually evolving complex systems. Expanding on previous explorations of chaos theory, Peters draws on real-life examples ranging from the Asian crisis to America's love of conspiracy to show that complexity and randomness are necessary for the free markets to operate in a competitive manner.

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Patterns in the Dark is that rare book that offers an entirely new perspective on an issue of ongoing concern to investors: the unpredictability of financial markets. In this groundbreaking work, leading investment strategist and authority on chaos theory, Edgar Peters makes accessible ways of understanding market behavior that-until now-were known only to specialists. Patterns in the Dark draws on a broad range of human knowledge and experience to clarify the behavior of a system that now operates on a global, 24-hour, and thoroughly interconnected basis. Peters illuminates the complex operation of the marketplace by including keen observations drawn from science, mathematics, and artistic creation as well as economics. His models include the social visions of the Austrian economists, Darwinian ideas of evolution, the laws of physics, and the creative risks of the artist. His meditations on financial markets weigh the effects of limitations vs. rules, risks vs. uncertainty, and order vs. chaos. As a guide to a world marketplace that has become increasingly complex and uncertain, Patterns in the Dark offers the investor a rich source of insight, illumination, and wisdom.

Autor

EDGAR E. PETERS is Chief Investment Strategist and Director of Systematic Asset Allocation for PanAgora Asset Management, a global investment management firm. He is a frequent lecturer on market theory and has taught investment and portfolio management at Babson College, Boston College, and Bentley College. He is the author of Chaos and Order in the Capital Markets and Fractal Market Analysis, as well as numerous articles in professional journals.

Inhalt

Introduction: Life, Risk, and Uncertainty.

UNCERTAINTY, COMPLEXITY, AND SPONTANEOUS ORGANIZATION.

Imposing Order: Conspiracies and the Mathematics of
Ignorance.

Uncertainty, Vagueness, and Ambiguity: The Need for
Information.

Complexity and Time: The Dynamics of Uncertainty.

FREE MARKETS AND THE NEED FOR UNCERTAINTY.

Subjectivism: "The Economics of Time and Ignorance."

Diversity and Knowledge.

Crisis and Competition: Creative Destruction in Free Markets.

Economic Evolution: Change in Real Time.

Creativity: Uncertainty, Innovation, and Entrepreneurs.

Rules and Law: Limits in Complexity.

Degrees of Order: Balancing Rules, Freedom, and Uncertainty.

The Need for Uncertainty.

References.

Index.

Rezensionen

Peters combines a chaos/complex systems framework with the Austrian school of economic thought to explain our lack of market understanding. He develops a strong case that the most pressing problem for investors is not a matter of specific models but of determining how to assess risk in a complex and uncertain world. Peters draws important distinctions between risk, uncertainty, ignorance, vagueness, and ambiguity, and in doing so, shows how the subtle meanings of words can provide immense value in explaining the market environment. He also resurrects the Austrian school's emphasis on subjectivism and makes it come alive within finance. (Financial Analyst's Journal)

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.5.2001
• Reihe/Serie: Wiley Investment
• Reihe/Serie: Wiley Investment Series
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management ► Finanzierung
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Volkswirtschaftslehre
• Schlagworte: Account • Amateurs • American • author • Beliefs • Book • columnist • dice • fascinating • Finance & Investments • Finanz- u. Anlagewesen • Great • heart • Help • Ian • Investments & Securities • Irreducible • Kapitalanlagen u. Wertpapiere • Lies • Peters • Scientific • Smart • Social • theory • theyre • todays • traders • Uncertainty • US • Volatility • Way • Wirtschaft / Allgemeines, Lexika
• ISBN-10: 0-471-43709-3 / 0471437093
• ISBN-13: 978-0-471-43709-3 / 9780471437093