The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets

These book grew out of a course entitled "Physikalische Modelle in der Fi­ nanzwirtschaft" which I have taught at the University of Freiburg during the winter term 1998/1999, building on a similar course a year before at the University of Bayreuth. It was an experiment. My interest in the statistical mechanics of capital markets goes back to a public lecture on self-organized criticality, given at the University of Bayreuth in early 1994. Bak, Tang, and Wiesenfeld, in the first longer paper on their theory of self-organized criticality [Phys. Rev. A 38, 364 (1988)] mention Mandelbrot's 1963 paper [J. Business 36, 394 (1963)] on power-law scaling in commodity markets, and speculate on economic systems being described by their theory. Starting from about 1995, papers appeared with increasing frequency on the Los Alamos preprint server, and in the physics literature, showing that physicists found the idea of applying methods of statistical physics to problems of economy exciting and that they produced interesting results. I also was tempted to start work in this new field. However, there was one major problem: my traditional field of research is the theory of strongly correlated quasi-one-dimensional electrons, conducting polymers, quantum wires and organic superconductors, and I had no prior education in the advanced methods of either stochastics and quantitative finance.

"Apart from its envisioned audience in the physics community this book should be useful to econometricians and statisticians who are interested in an unconventional look at empirical finance. It is excellent at illustrating the similarities of financial markets with non-equilibrium physical systems, notably turbulence. Although it is too early for a final verdict on the merits of ‘physics methods’ in finance, this book is a most welcome starting point for anybody interested in this new interdisciplinary area." (Statistical Papers, 44/2, 2003)

"Provides an excellent introduction for physicists interested in the statistical properties of financial markets. Appropriately early in the book, the basic financial terms such as shorts, limit orders, puts, calls, and other terms are clearly defined. Examples, often with graphs, augment the reader's understanding of what may be a plethora of new terms and ideas. [...] In conclusion, The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets is an excellent starting point for the physicist interested in the subject. Some of the book’s strongest features are its careful definitions, its detailed examples, and the connections it establishes to physical systems. The mathematics are the level of upper undergraduate statistics and statistical physics, making the book suitable for students as well as practicing physicists." (Physics Today, 2002)

"This book is excellent at illustrating the similarities of financial markets with other non-equilibrium physical systems. [...] In summary, a very good book that offers more than just qualitative comparisons of physics and finance." (www.quantnotes.com)

"Reading this book is a good way for physicists and those who like training to become acquainted with research problems in finance, and it gives finance people with more conventional backgrounds the chance to see what has been accomplished by the physicists who have worked in this area.”(MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS)

"…an excellent starting point for the physicist interested in the subject…Some of the books strongest features are its careful definition, its detailed examples, and the connections it establishes to physical systems…The mathematics are at the level of upper undergraduate statistics and statistical physics, making the book suitable for students as well as practicing physicists.” (PHYSICS TODAY)