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Loss aversion, survival and asset prices

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  • Easley, David
  • Yang, Liyan

Abstract

This paper studies the wealth and pricing implications of loss aversion in the presence of arbitrageurs with Epstein–Zin preferences. Loss aversion affects an investor's survival prospects mainly through its effect on the investor's portfolio holdings. Loss-averse investors will be driven out of the market and do not affect long-run prices if their portfolio positions are further away from those corresponding to the log investor than arbitrageurs. In terms of wealth shares, the market selection process can be slow, but the selection force is nonetheless effective in terms of price impact, which highlights the importance of introducing preference heterogeneity in understanding asset prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Easley, David & Yang, Liyan, 2015. "Loss aversion, survival and asset prices," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 494-516.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:160:y:2015:i:c:p:494-516
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2015.08.013
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    Cited by:

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    3. Weining Niu & Qingduo Zeng, 2017. "Security issuance and price impact under loss aversion," International Journal of Financial Engineering (IJFE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(02n03), pages 1-9, June.
    4. Hirshleifer, David & Lo, Andrew W. & Zhang, Ruixun, 2023. "Social contagion and the survival of diverse investment styles," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    5. Oumayma GHARBI & Yousra TRICHILI & Mouna BOUJELBENE ABBES, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the relationship between uncertainty factors, investor’s behavioral biases and the stock market reaction of US Fintech companies," Journal of Academic Finance, RED research unit, university of Gabes, Tunisia, vol. 13(1), pages 101-122, June.
    6. Chen, Zengjing & Epstein, Larry G. & Zhang, Guodong, 2023. "A central limit theorem, loss aversion and multi-armed bandits," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    7. Neszveda, G., 2019. "Essays on behavioral finance," Other publications TiSEM 05059039-5236-42a3-be1b-3, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    8. Dindo, Pietro, 2019. "Survival in speculative markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1-43.
    9. Guo, Jing & He, Xue Dong, 2017. "Equilibrium asset pricing with Epstein-Zin and loss-averse investors," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 86-108.
    10. Jing Guo & Xue Dong He, 2021. "Recursive Utility with Investment Gains and Losses: Existence, Uniqueness, and Convergence," Papers 2107.05163, arXiv.org.
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    13. Chueh-Yung Tsao & Ya-Chi Huang, 2018. "Revisiting the issue of survivability and market efficiency with the Santa Fe Artificial Stock Market," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 13(3), pages 537-560, October.
    14. Guo, Jing & He, Xue Dong, 2021. "A new preference model that allows for narrow framing," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    15. Ouzan, Samuel, 2020. "Loss aversion and market crashes," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 70-86.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Loss aversion; Narrow framing; Epstein–Zin preferences; Market selection; Asset prices;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • D50 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - General

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