This book concerns the use of concepts from statistical physics in the description of financial systems. The authors illustrate the scaling concepts used in probability theory, critical phenomena, and fully developed turbulent fluids. These concepts are then applied to financial time series. The authors also present a stochastic model that displays several of the statistical properties observed in empirical data. Statistical physics concepts such as stochastic dynamics, short- and long-range correlations, self-similarity and scaling permit an understanding of the global behaviour of economic systems without first having to work out a detailed microscopic description of the system. Physicists will find the application of statistical physics concepts to economic systems interesting. Economists and workers in the financial world will find useful the presentation of empirical analysis methods and well-formulated theoretical tools that might help describe systems composed of a huge number of interacting subsystems.

‘… they have been remarkably successful in presenting a clear and concise introductory summary of a large body of work on the statistical properties of stock prices.’

Burton Malkiel Source: Journal of Economic Literature

‘Clearly and concisely written, this book provides an excellent introduction to the problem of understanding the empirical statistical properties of prices.’

Doyne Farmer - Prediction Company, Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Institute

‘I feel the book is a useful introduction to the empirical aspects of econophysics.’

Blake LeBaron Source: Nature

‘The authors are leading researchers in the field, and were well-regarded statistical physicists before that … the book seems aimed the other way, at physicists interested in economics, and for them it would make a good introduction to finance. The writing is clear and friendly, the production values high and the guides to further reading excellent. They will find it well worth their time and money.’

Cosma Shalizi - Institute of Physics