Two Professors at a Nearby University Want to Co-Author a New

question 32

Multiple Choice

Two professors at a nearby university want to co-author a new textbook in either economics or statistics.They feel that if they write an economics book,they have a 50 percent chance of placing it with a major publisher,and it should ultimately sell about 40,000 copies.If they can't get a major publisher to take it,then they feel they have an 80 percent chance of placing it with a smaller publisher,with ultimate sales of 30,000 copies.On the other hand,if they write a statistics book,they feel they have a 40 percent chance of placing it with a major publisher,and it should result in ultimate sales of about 50,000 copies.If they can't get a major publisher to take it,they feel they have a 50 percent chance of placing it with a smaller publisher,with ultimate sales of 35,000 copies.What is the expected value for the optimum decision alternative?

• A)50,000 copies
• B)40,000 copies
• C)32,000 copies
• D)30,500 copies
• E)10,500 copies

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Definitions:

Market Risk

The risk of losses in investments due to factors that affect the entire market or asset class, such as economic changes or political events.

Firm-specific Risk

The type of risk that affects a particular company or industry, also known as unsystematic risk.

Diversified Away

The risk that can be reduced or eliminated in a portfolio through investments in a variety of assets, thus not tied to the performance of a single investment.

Market Risk

The risk of losses in positions arising from movements in market prices.