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Adaptive loss aversion and market experience

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  • Lindsay, Luke

Abstract

This paper develops a new behavioral model of how experience affects willingness to trade called adaptive loss aversion. In the model, agents do not recognize that others have different information. Loss aversion makes them cautious. When trading, this protects them from being exploited by better-informed traders. The degree of loss aversion λ is adjusted in response to experience and carries over between games. When outcomes are better than anticipated, λ decreases; when outcomes are worse than anticipated, it increases. A repeated market experiment with symmetric and asymmetric information is used to test the model. The data are noisier than anticipated but some of the model’ s main predictions are supported. A structural version of the model is estimated using the experimental data and data from two previous experiments on the winner’s curse. A range of other behavioral game theory models is also estimated using the same data and the fit of the models is compared.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindsay, Luke, 2019. "Adaptive loss aversion and market experience," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 43-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:168:y:2019:i:c:p:43-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2019.09.023
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    3. Huong Trang Kim, 2023. "Linking Trait Affectivity, Cognitive Ability, and Preferences Among Top Managers: Insights From a Lab-In-The-Field Experiment," Evaluation Review, , vol. 47(3), pages 479-503, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Loss aversion; Adaptive learning; Experience;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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