I. Introduction and summary, 376. — II. Fixed coefficients model: first analysis, 377.—III. Smooth substitution model: first analysis, 382.—IV. Fixed coefficients model: extended analysis, 385. — V. Smooth substitution I model: extended analysis, 394.—Appendix, 396.

This paper investigates the properties of a for risky assets on the basis of a simple model of general equilibrium of exchange, where individual investors seek to maximize preference functions over expected yield and variance of yield on their port- folios. A theory of risk premiums is outlined, and it is shown that general equilibrium implies the existence of a so-called market line, relating per dollar expected yield and standard deviation of yield. The concept of price of risk is discussed in terms of the slope of this line.