International Arbitrage Premia

Abstract

We introduce the nonlinear arbitrage correction (NAC), the residual that renders a linear benchmark model arbitrage-free while preserving the law of one price. The price of NAC captures the marginal Sharpe ratio increase consistent with no-arbitrage and upper-bounds the constrained Hansen–Jagannathan distance. Using four decades of international equity, currency, and factor returns, NAC is strongly countercyclical, peaking during crises when linear models turn negative. The implied Sharpe ratio increase reaches 0.3, underscoring its economic relevance. While linear models perform well on average, they fail in distressed states, underpricing nonlinear payoffs. Incorporating NAC restores positivity and stabilizes pricing across regimes. (JEL G11, G12, G15)