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Myopic Loss Aversion and Investment Decisions: from the Laboratory to the Field

Author

Listed:
  • Kazi Iqbal
  • Asadul Islam
  • John A. List
  • Vy Nguyen
Abstract
Whether, and to what extent, behavioral anomalies uncovered in the lab manifest themselves in the field remains of first order importance in finance and economics. We begin by examining behavior of retail traders/investors making investment decisions in constructed laboratory markets. Our results show that the behaviors of the traders are consistent with myopic loss aversion. We combine the lab results with a unique individual-level matched dataset on daily stock market transactions and portfolio positions over a two year period. We find that lab behaviors help to predict, but do not fully capture, the essential real-world trading analogs of retail traders.

Suggested Citation

  • Kazi Iqbal & Asadul Islam & John A. List & Vy Nguyen, 2021. "Myopic Loss Aversion and Investment Decisions: from the Laboratory to the Field," NBER Working Papers 28730, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28730
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • N97 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Africa; Oceania

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