RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Risk-Free Asset Implied By the Market: Medium-Term Bonds Instead of Short-Term Bills JF The Journal of Portfolio Management FD Institutional Investor Journals SP jpm.2020.1.166 DO 10.3905/jpm.2020.1.166 A1 David Blitz YR 2020 UL https://pm-research.com/content/early/2020/07/04/jpm.2020.1.166.abstract AB In empirical tests of the capital asset pricing model, the theoretical risk-free asset is typically assumed to be 1-month Treasury bills. This article examines the implications of a misspecified risk-free asset—that is, the possibility that the true risk-free asset is a longer-maturity Treasury bond. A simple theoretical derivation leads to the testable prediction that low-beta (high-beta) stocks should then exhibit positive (negative) bond betas. The author finds strong empirical confirmation for these predictions. The market-implied risk-free asset can be pinpointed at medium-term (5-year) bonds. Concrete implications of this finding are a lower equity risk premium and a less steep security market line.TOPICS: Portfolio theory, portfolio construction, derivativesKey Findings• In empirical tests of the capital asset pricing model, the theoretical risk-free asset is typically assumed to be 1-month Treasury bills. This article examines the implications of a misspecified risk-free asset—that is, the possibility that the true risk-free asset is a longer-maturity Treasury bond.• A simple theoretical derivation leads to the testable prediction that low-beta (high-beta) stocks should then exhibit positive (negative) bond betas.• The author finds strong empirical confirmation for these predictions and can pinpoint the market-implied risk-free asset at medium-term (5-year) bonds. Concrete implications of this finding are a lower equity risk premium and a less steep security market line.