Andreas Kaeck

Empirical Asset Pricing Meeting (EAPM): Bridging academia and industry insights

, Professor of Finance at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Business School, co-organised with VU Amsterdam and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, an immersive workshop tailored for both visionary practitioners and esteemed academics. The workshop’s goal was to intertwine the rigors of top-tier academic research with the pragmatic insight from finance professionals.

The EAPM took center stage on the 19th of May 2023 in Amsterdam. The day's narrative unfolded with five intellectually stimulating academic presentations by luminaries such as Mungo Wilson from University of Oxford, Paul Schneider from University of Lugano, Cynthia Balloch representing London School of Economics, Michael Johannes of Columbia Business School, and Grigory Vilkov of Frankfurt School of Management and Finance. These sessions delved deep into the nuances of empirical asset pricing, resonating with scholarly rigor.

Albert Menkveld, Professor at VU Amsterdam watching the presentation

Complementing these enriching academic discourses, the workshop embraced two captivating practitioner presentations, graciously delivered by Ananth Madhavan, Head of BlackRock’s Academic Engagement and Chris Kaminker, Head of BlackRock Sustainable Investment and Research Analytics. The two practitioner presentations were strategically tailored to benefit academics, acquainting them with prevailing investment industry trends and illuminating pathways for industry-aligned research inquiries.

Two people discussing ideas round a table including Mungo Wilson who was a speaker at the conference

Originally conceived as a small event, the workshop drew forty-five in-person attendees and an impressive eighty online participants via the Zoom platform. Renowned practitioners from OptiVer, BlackRock, and the Dutch National Bank engaged in insightful discussions, offering invaluable perspectives on various research themes. The workshop canvassed a diverse array of topics, spanning biodiversity, meme stock price formation, the market risks tied to Central Bank announcements, and the portfolio allocation among affluent individuals.

Monique Donders, the organiser from BlackRock sitting with other conference attendees and speakers watching the presentation

The resounding success of this event reverberates on multiple fronts. Beyond the rich academic and practitioner discourse, the workshop crystallised as an international nexus fostering invaluable relationships across academia and industry.

Grigory Vilkov gesturing and speaking during the presentation

The event was an opportunity for the Business School to build reputation in the area of empirical asset pricing research. This workshop was made possible through the generous support from the Engagement Facilitation Fund of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Business School, VU Amsterdam, BlackRock, and the Dutch National Bank.