Abstract
Research and teaching in financial
economics very often assumes that the efficient market hypothesis is verified.
Nonetheless, financial markets are still very far from reaching substantial
levels of efficiency. Moreover, different perspective of market efficiency can
be subsumed. In this paper, we provide a clearcut taxonomy of the different
nuances of financial markets efficiency, useful for economic research and
teaching. We also argue that scholars should necessarily disclose in advance
the perspective of market efficiency assumed for the research analysis or
teaching purposes and discuss the limitations in the inference that can derive.
JEL classification numbers: G14, G10.
Keywords: Financial markets, Market efficiency, Efficient market
hypothesis, EMH.