Non-Arbitrage Principle

Foundation

The non-arbitrage principle is a core tenet of financial economics asserting that risk-free profit opportunities cannot persist in an efficient market. This principle implies that the prices of financial assets and their derivatives must be consistent with each other, preventing any combination of trades from yielding a guaranteed return without risk. It serves as a fundamental building block for rational asset pricing models. This principle ensures market equilibrium. It is a critical assumption in quantitative finance.