Investopedia

Anti-Fragility

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Anti-Fragility'

A postulated antithesis to fragility where high-impact events or shocks can be beneficial. Anti-fragility is a concept developed by professor, former trader and former hedge fund manager Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Taleb coined the term "anti-fragility" because he thought the existing words used to describe the opposite of "fragility," such as "robustness," were inaccurate. Anti-fragility goes beyond robustness; it means that something does not merely withstand a shock but actually improves because of it.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Anti-Fragility'

For example, he describes an anti-fragile trading strategy as one that does not merely withstand a turbulent market but becomes more appealing under such conditions. Another example he gives is weight lifting, which trains muscles not just to withstand heavy lifting but to develop increased strength as the body repairs the muscle fiber tears. Taleb discusses anti-fragility in his books, "The Black Swan," "Fooled By Randomness" and his 2012 book "Antifragility."

Articles Of Interest

  1. 10 Books Worth Investing In

    Here are 10 financial services books that are informative and useful.
  2. Volatility - The Birth Of A New Asset Class

    Learn more about the trading possibilities with the VIX.
  3. Black Swan Events And Investment

    These world-changing events are rare and difficult to predict, but the implications for your investments need to be taken seriously.
  4. Understanding Volatility Measurements

    How do you choose a fund with an optimal risk-reward combination? We teach you about standard deviation, beta and more!
  5. Financial Physics: "Natural" Market Laws

    Physics uses math to define the laws of the universe; here, we look at what laws explain the financial universe.
  6. 5 ETFs Flaws You Shouldn't Overlook

    Despite their popularity, exchange traded funds have some drawbacks that investors should know about.
  7. Using The Price-To-Book Ratio To Evaluate Companies

    The P/B ratio can be an easy way to determine a company's value, but it isn't magic!
  8. Liquidity Vs. Solvency

    Learn about the differences between these two words and how each one is used in the stock market.
  9. Should You Invest Your Entire Portfolio In Stocks?

    It is true that stocks outperform bonds and cash in the long run, but that statistic doesn't tell the whole story.
  10. The Uses And Limits Of Volatility

    Check out how the assumptions of theoretical risk models compare to actual market performance.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  2. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
  3. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.
  4. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.
  5. Icarus Factor

    The term Icarus factor describes a situation where managers or executives initiate an overly ambitious project which then fails. Fueled by excitement for the project, the executives are unable to reign in their misguided enthusiasm before it is too late to avoid the failure.
  6. Angelina Jolie Stock Index

    An index made up of a selection of stocks from companies associated with actress Angela Jolie.
Trading Center