What does Macaulay duration represent economically?

Macaulay duration is the effective average maturity of a bond's cash flows. A 5-year Macaulay duration means the investor receives cash flows with an average timing of 5 years. For zero-coupon bonds, Macaulay duration equals maturity; for coupon bonds, it is always less than maturity.

How does coupon size affect Macaulay duration?

Higher coupon rates reduce Macaulay duration because more cash flows arrive earlier, pulling the weighted average time forward. A 10% coupon bond matures in 10 years but may have a Macaulay duration of only 6–7 years, while a 2% coupon bond of the same maturity might have a duration of 8.5 years.

Macaulay Duration Weighted Cash Flows

Calculate Macaulay duration as the weighted average time to receive all cash flows (coupons + principal), weighted by present value of each cash flow as a fraction of total bond price.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Macaulay duration represent economically?

How does coupon size affect Macaulay duration?