What is ‘Variability’
Variability is the extent to which data points in a statistical distribution or data set diverge from the average, or mean, value as well as the extent to which these data points differ from each other. There are four commonly used measures of variability: range, mean, variance and standard deviation.
Explaining ‘Variability’
The risk perception of an asset class is directly proportional to the variability of its returns. As a result, the risk premium that investors demand to invest in assets, such as stocks and commodities, is higher than the risk premium for assets such as Treasury bills, which have a much lower return variability. Variability refers to the difference being exhibited by data points within a dataset, as related to each other or as related to the mean. This can be expressed through the range, variance or standard deviation of a dataset.
Largest and Smallest Value
The range refers to the difference between the largest and smallest value assigned to the variable being examined. In statistical analysis, the range is represented by a single number. The variance is the square of the standard deviation based on a list of data points, while the standard deviation is representative of the spread existing between data points.
Variance With Regards to the Mean
The mean, or average, value of a dataset represents a midpoint of the values expressed within the data. This is separate from the median, which refers to the exact value of the data point that falls at the center of the data points should they be listed in ascending or descending order based on numerical value. While the median must be represented by the precise value of the midvalued data point, the mean may or may not be actually reflected as a figure within the dataset.
Variability in Investing
Variability is used to standardize the returns obtained on an investment and provides a point of comparison for additional analysis. One measure of reward-to-variability is the Sharpe ratio, which measures the excess return or risk premium per unit of risk for an asset. In essence, the Sharpe ratio provides a metric to compare the amount of compensation an investor receives with regard to the overall risk being assumed by holding said investment. The excess return is based on the amount of return experienced beyond investments that are considered free of risk. All else being equal, the asset with the higher Sharpe ratio delivers more return for the same amount of risk.
Further Reading
- Rank variability of the publish or perish metrics for economics and finance journals – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
- The volatility-variability hypotheses testing and hedging effectiveness of precious metals for the Indonesian and Malaysian capital market – search.informit.com.au [PDF]
- Real exchange rate variability and the choice of exchange rate regime by developing countries – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
- Inflation variability and the relationship between inflation and growth – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
- The Variability in the Effects of Monetary Policy on Output and Price [J] – en.cnki.com.cn [PDF]
- Determinants of the Variability of Corporate Effective Tax Rates——Evidence of Listed Companies in China [J] – en.cnki.com.cn [PDF]
- International portfolio nondiversification and exchange rate variability – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
- Inflation and relative price variability in Mexico: the role of remittances – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
- Profitability in Norwegian salmon farming: The impact of firm size and price variability – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
- LIQUIDITY, PRICE VARIABILITY, AND STORAGE ASYMMETRY: A STUDY OF THE BEHAVIOR OF PRICES IN FUTURES MARKETS. – elibrary.ru [PDF]
