Introduction to Econophysics: Correlations and Complexity in Finance - Hardcover

Mantegna, Rosario N.; Stanley, H. Eugene

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521620082 ISBN 13: 9780521620086

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Statistical physics concepts such as stochastic dynamics, short- and long-range correlations, self-similarity and scaling, permit an understanding of the global behavior of economic systems without first having to work out a detailed microscopic description of the system. This pioneering text explores the use of these concepts in the description of financial systems, the dynamic new specialty of econophysics. The authors illustrate the scaling concepts used in probability theory, critical phenomena, and fully-developed turbulent fluids and apply them to financial time series. They also present a new stochastic model that displays several of the statistical properties observed in empirical data. Physicists will find the application of statistical physics concepts to economic systems fascinating. Economists and other financial professionals will benefit from the book's empirical analysis methods and well-formulated theoretical tools that will allow them to describe systems composed of a huge number of interacting subsystems.

About this title

Book Description

In recent years there has been a reciprocal interest between physicists and economists in finding common research approaches. This interest has been mainly triggered by the large amount of carefully recorded economic data now easily available, and by the emergence in physics of new results and paradigms in the study of critical phenomena, disordered systems and nonlinear dynamical systems. This book introduces the concepts and methods that are emerging from this renewed activity, in a straightforward direct style designed to appeal to individuals with either a science or economics background.

Review

"Clearly and concisely written, this book provides an excellent introduction to the problem of understanding the empirical statistical properties of prices." Doyne Farmer, Prediction Company, Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Institute

"[A] clear summary of many of the statistical properties of stock prices ... will prove useful to reseachers in several disciplines." /s Journal of Economic Literature

"Mantegna...and Stanley...draw on concepts from statistical physics to describe financial systems...[and]...illustrate the scaling concepts used in probability theory, in critical phenomena, and in fully developed turbulent fluids, and apply them to financial time series to gain insight into the behavior of financial markets." Reference & Research Book News

"This book is beneficial to both the financial economicist and the physicist...An Itroduction to Econopysics Correlations and Complexity in Finance provides a valuable picture of the relationship between physics and financial economics." Discrefe Dynamics in NAture and Society 2001 vol.6

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0521620082
• ISBN 13: 9780521620086
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 162