Issue: 2012/Vol.22/No.3, Pages 37-53
THE BASIS OF FINANCIAL ARITHMETIC FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF UTILITY THEORY
Krzysztof Piasecki
Cite as: K. Piasecki. The basis of financial arithmetic from the viewpoint of utility theory. Operations Research and Decisions 2012: 22(3), 37-53. DOI 10.5277/ord120303
Abstract
The main goal of this paper is to present a modern axiomatic approach to financial arithmetic. An axiomatic theory of financial arithmetic was first proposed by Peccati, who introduced an axiomatic definition of future value. This theory has been extensively developed in recent years. The proposed approach to financial arithmetic is based on the concept of the utility of a financial flow. Thiscutility function is defined as a linear extension of a multicriterion comparison determined by an individual’s time preference and capital preference. The present value is then defined to be the utility of the financial flow. Therefore, the law of the diminishing marginal utility of wealth has been considered as an additional feature of the present value. The future value is defined as the inverse of the utility function. This definition is a generalization of Peccati’s one. The net present value is given as the unique additive extension of the utility of the financial flow. Moreover, the synergy effect and the diversification effect will be discussed. At the end, the axiomatic definition of the present value will be specified in three ways.
Keywords: synergy effect of capital, diversification, financial arithmetic, Gossen’s first law, utility
Received: Accepted: