Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business, and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Through detailed discussion of the central principles of behavioral finance, this enlightening Advanced Introduction provides a balanced exploration of the broad issues within the field. Chapters explain the continuous development of the discipline and provide a useful differentiation between behavioral finance and standard finance. Key Features: Illustrates the various challenges and opportunities facing behavioral finance Provides clear definitions of key terms within the subject area of behavioral finance Investigates applications of behavioral finance in financial decision-making, including within corporate finance Explains why blending behavioral and standard approaches would likely improve financial understanding and lead to better decision-making This illuminating Advanced Introduction will be valuable for academics, researchers, and practitioners interested in behavioral finance. Students researching behavioral economics, economic psychology, and financial economics will also find it informative.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business, and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Through detailed discussion of the central principles of behavioral finance, this enlightening Advanced Introduction provides a balanced exploration of the broad issues within the field. Chapters explain the continuous development of the discipline and provide a useful differentiation between behavioral finance and standard finance. Key Features: Illustrates the various challenges and opportunities facing behavioral finance Provides clear definitions of key terms within the subject area of behavioral finance Investigates applications of behavioral finance in financial decision-making, including within corporate finance Explains why blending behavioral and standard approaches would likely improve financial understanding and lead to better decision-making This illuminating Advanced Introduction will be valuable for academics, researchers, and practitioners interested in behavioral finance. Students researching behavioral economics, economic psychology, and financial economics will also find it informative.

Sharpen your understanding of the financial markets with this incisive volume Equity Markets, Valuation, and Analysis brings together many of the leading practitioner and academic voices in finance to produce a comprehensive and empirical examination of equity markets. Masterfully written and edited by experts in the field, Equity Markets, Valuation, and Analysis introduces the basic concepts and applications that govern the area before moving on to increasingly intricate treatments of sub-fields and market trends. The book includes in-depth coverage of subjects including: - The latest trends and research from across the globe - The controversial issues facing the field of valuation and the future outlook for the field - Empirical evidence and research on equity markets - How investment professionals analyze and manage equity portfolios This book balances its comprehensive discussion of the empirical foundations of equity markets with the perspectives of financial experts. It is ideal for professional investors, financial analysts, and undergraduate and graduate students in finance.

WINNER, Business: Personal Finance/Investing, 2015 USA Best Book Awards FINALIST, Business: Reference, 2015 USA Best Book Awards Investor Behavior provides readers with a comprehensive understanding and the latest research in the area of behavioral finance and investor decision making. Blending contributions from noted academics and experienced practitioners, this 30-chapter book will provide investment professionals with insights on how to understand and manage client behavior; a framework for interpreting financial market activity; and an in-depth understanding of this important new field of investment research. The book should also be of interest to academics, investors, and students. The book will cover the major principles of investor psychology, including heuristics, bounded rationality, regret theory, mental accounting, framing, prospect theory, and loss aversion. Specific sections of the book will delve into the role of personality traits, financial therapy, retirement planning, financial coaching, and emotions in investment decisions. Other topics covered include risk perception and tolerance, asset allocation decisions under inertia and inattention bias; evidenced based financial planning, motivation and satisfaction, behavioral investment management, and neurofinance. Contributions will delve into the behavioral underpinnings of various trading and investment topics including trader psychology, stock momentum, earnings surprises, and anomalies. The final chapters of the book examine new research on socially responsible investing, mutual funds, and real estate investing from a behavioral perspective. Empirical evidence and current literature about each type of investment issue are featured. Cited research studies are presented in a straightforward manner focusing on the comprehension of study findings, rather than on the details of mathematical frameworks.

Designed for those who want to gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts and techniques used in financial management. An underlying premise of the book is that the objective of the firm is to maximize value or wealth. Drawing on a wealth of experience in the academic and professional worlds, the authors discuss how firms can accomplish this objective by making appropriate investment and financing decisions.

Bridging the gap between financial theory and practice, the authors present fundamental concepts in an intuitive and nontechnical way, and provide numerous practical financial tips to readers. The focus is on current practice, using results from recent surveys to show the most popular techniques and approaches used by financial managers today.

A range of instructor’s resources are available at the accompanying website. Visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/baker for full details.

A comprehensive guide to making better capital structure and corporate financing decisions in today's dynamic business environment Given the dramatic changes that have recently occurred in the economy, the topic of capital structure and corporate financing decisions is critically important. The fact is that firms need to constantly revisit their portfolio of debt, equity, and hybrid securities to finance assets, operations, and future growth. Capital Structure and Corporate Financing Decisions provides an in-depth examination of critical capital structure topics, including discussions of basic capital structure components, key theories and practices, and practical application in an increasingly complex corporate world. Throughout, the book emphasizes how a sound capital structure simultaneously minimizes the firm's cost of capital and maximizes the value to shareholders. * Offers a strategic focus that allows you to understand how financing decisions relates to a firm's overall corporate policy * Consists of contributed chapters from both academics and experienced professionals, offering a variety of perspectives and a rich interplay of ideas * Contains information from survey research describing actual financial practices of firms This valuable resource takes a practical approach to capital structure by discussing why various theories make sense and how firms use them to solve problems and create wealth. In the wake of the recent financial crisis, the insights found here are essential to excelling in today's volatile business environment.

A definitive guide to the growing field of behavioral finance

This reliable resource provides a comprehensive view of behavioral finance and its psychological foundations, as well as its applications to finance. Comprising contributed chapters written by distinguished authors from some of the most influential firms and universities in the world, "Behavioral Finance" provides a synthesis of the most essential elements of this discipline, including psychological concepts and behavioral biases, the behavioral aspects of asset pricing, asset allocation, and market prices, as well as investor behavior, corporate managerial behavior, and social influences.Uses a structured approach to put behavioral finance in perspectiveRelies on recent research findings to provide guidance through the maze of theories and conceptsDiscusses the impact of sub-optimal financial decisions on the efficiency of capital markets, personal wealth, and the performance of corporations

Behavioral finance has quickly become part of mainstream finance. If you need to gain a better understanding of this topic, look no further than this book.

A comprehensive guide to alternative investments that reveals today's latest research and strategies

Historically low interest rates and bear markets in world stock markets have generated intense interest in alternative investments. With returns in traditional investment vehicles relatively low, many professional investors view alternative investments as a means of meeting their return objectives. "Alternative Investments: Instruments, Performance, Benchmarks, and Strategies," can put you in a better position to achieve this difficult goal.

Part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, "Alternative Investments" provides an in-depth discussion of the historic performance, benchmarks, and strategies of every major alternative investment market. With contributions from professionals and academics around the world, it offers valuable insights on the latest trends, research, and thinking in each major area. Empirical evidence about each type of alternative investment is featured, with research presented in a straightforward manner.Examines a variety of major alternative asset classes, from real estate, private equity, and commodities to managed futures, hedge funds, and distressed securitiesProvides detailed insights on the latest research and strategies, and offers a thorough explanation of historical performance, benchmarks, and other critical informationBlends knowledge from the conceptual world of scholars with the pragmatic view of practitioners in this field

Alternative investments provide a means of diversification, risk control, and return enhancement and, as such, are attractive to many professional investors. If you're looking for an effective way to hone your skills in this dynamic area of finance, look no further than this book.

A detailed look at the role of social responsibility in finance and investing

The concept of socially responsible finance and investing continues to grow, especially in the wake of one of the most devastating financial crises in history. This includes responsibility from the corporate side (corporate social responsibility) as well as the investor side (socially responsible investing) of the capital markets. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, "Socially Responsible Finance and Investing" offers an important basis of knowledge regarding both the theory and practice of this ever-evolving area of finance.

As part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, this book showcases contributed chapters from professionals and academics with extensive expertise on this particular subject. It provides a comprehensive view of socially responsible foundations and their applications to finance and investing as determined by the current state of research.Discusses many important issues associated with socially responsible finance and investing, like moral hazard and the concept of "too big to fail"Contains contributed chapters from numerous thought-leaders in the field of financePresents comprehensive coverage starting with the basics and bringing you through to cutting-edge, current theory and practice

Now more than ever, we need to be mindful of the social responsibilities of all investment practices. The recent financial crisis and recession has changed the financial landscape for years to come and "Socially Responsible Finance and Investing" is a timely guide to help us navigate this difficult terrain.