Cost Efficiencies in the Management of Commodity Mutual Funds

Abstract

This article examines the determinants of cost efficiencies in the U.S. commodity mutual fund industry from 2001 to 2016. Empirical results show that cost increases in the U.S. commodity mutual fund industry have been less than proportional to increases in fund assets, pointing to economies of scale for the industry. Average cost elasticity varies by fund size, existence of 12b-1 fees, load versus no-load funds, and institutional versus retail funds. Funds without a 12b-1 plan show larger economies of scale than funds with a 12b-1 plan. Institutional funds show greater economies of scale than retail funds since 2010.

TOPICS: Mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, commodities, legal/regulatory/public policy, performance measurement