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Overconfidence and the 2D:4D ratio

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  • da Silva, Eduardo Borges
  • Silva, Thiago Christiano
  • Constantino, Michel
  • Amancio, Diego Raphael
  • Tabak, Benjamin Miranda

Abstract

This paper tests whether prenatal testosterone levels are related to overconfidence. We use a non-intrusive method called 2D:4D ratio to measure prenatal exposure to testosterone of subjects. Using data collected from students from a large university in Brazil, we find that testosterone is positively correlated with higher levels of overconfidence. We also find support that males and self-declared white persons are associated to higher overconfidence levels comparatively to females and self-declared non-white persons, respectively. We also find that the marginal effect of prenatal testosterone on overconfidence is higher for left-handed than for right-handed persons. This means that the role of the prenatal testosterone, as measured by the 2D:4D ratio, on overconfidence is more relevant to left-handed persons. Our work presents empirical evidence that prenatal testosterone is an important predictor of individuals’ overconfidence behavior and that biological traits either attenuate or exacerbate such relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • da Silva, Eduardo Borges & Silva, Thiago Christiano & Constantino, Michel & Amancio, Diego Raphael & Tabak, Benjamin Miranda, 2020. "Overconfidence and the 2D:4D ratio," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:beexfi:v:25:y:2020:i:c:s2214635019302953
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100278
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    Cited by:

    1. Zunxin Zheng & Donghui Li & Tingyong Zhong & Tian Wang & Ling He, 2023. "CEO facial structure and stock price crash risk," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 873-905, April.
    2. Borges da Silva, Eduardo & Emanuel M. Oliveira, Vitor, 2022. "Uma análise de otimização asg à luz das premissas de finanças comportamentais [An analysis of esg optimization in the light of behavioral finance]," MPRA Paper 115510, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Borges da Silva, Eduardo & Moreno Cordeiro de Sousa, Alexandre, 2022. "Avaliação econômico-financeira de fintechs no mercado brasileiro: o caso INTER [Economic and financial evaluation of fintech in the Brazilian market: the case of INTER]," MPRA Paper 115509, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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