Dynamic equity slope

The term structure of equity and its cyclicality are key to understand the risks driving equilibrium asset prices. We propose a general equilibrium model that jointly explains four important features of the term structure of equity: (i) a negative unconditional term premium, (ii) countercyclical term premia, (iii) procyclical equity yields, and (iv) premia to value and growth claims respectively increasing and decreasing with the horizon. The economic mechanism hinges on the interaction between heteroskedastic long-run growth – which helps price long-term cash flows and leads to countercyclical risk premia – and homoskedastic shortterm shocks in the presence of limited market participation – which produce sizeable risk premia to short-term cash flows. The slope dynamics hold irrespective of the sign of its unconditional average. We provide empirical support to our model assumptions and predictions.

This paper empirically documents that expected growth volatility is a key driver of the equity term structure dynamics. A general equilibrium model jointly explains four important patterns: (i) a potentially negative unconditional equity term premium, (ii) countercyclical equity term premia, (iii) procyclical equity yields, and (iv) premia to value and growth claims respectively increasing and flat with the horizon. The economic mechanism hinges on the interaction between heteroscedastic long-run growthwhich leads to countercyclical risk premia-and homoscedastic short-term shocks under limited market participation-which produce sizable risk premia to short-term cash flows. The equity slope dynamics hold irrespective of the sign of its unconditional average.