Historical return on stock market and risk-free rate

Question

The market risk premium is difference among the historical return upon the stock market and the risk-free rate, for yearly. Why is this negative for some years?

Answer 1

The market risk premium (needed return) is not the difference among the historical return of the stock market and that of fixed-income. For illustration, the historical return of stock market over fixed-income in the United States fluctuates among 3 and 15 percent according to the time period referenced. The needed equity premium is the additional return an investor needs of the shares above the risk-free fixed-income. This does not have similar value for each investor and this is not observable. Thus, we cannot say this is a characteristic parameter of international or national economy.