What is a liquidity premium?

A liquidity premium refers to the additional yield that investors demand for holding securities that are less liquid compared to more liquid assets. When investors consider their choices, they weigh the ability to quickly sell an asset versus the potential returns it offers. Less liquid securities, those that cannot be easily sold or may require a discount to do so, are perceived as riskier. Therefore, to compensate for this risk and the potential inconvenience of not being able to liquidate the asset quickly, investors require a higher yield—the liquidity premium.

This concept is essential in financial markets as it reflects the compensation for the uncertainty and additional risks associated with a security's liquidity. Investors are often willing to pay (accept lower yields) for more liquid assets because they value the ability to convert them to cash more readily without a significant loss in value.

The other choices do not capture the essence of what a liquidity premium represents in financial markets. Thus, the identification of the extra yield required for holding less liquid securities correctly encapsulates the nature of the liquidity premium.