A risk premium is

both the difference between the earnings of a low risk asset and a high risk asset and the premium paid

to a security holder to compensate them for bearing a higher risk.

the term used for securities that have been identified as having both low downside risk while

maintaining positive growth on average.

the premium paid to a security holder to compensate the security holder for sacrificing higher potential

gains for greater certainty.

the average between the earnings of a low$-$risk asset and a high$-$risk asset.