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Nature or nurture: What determines investor behavior?

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  • Barnea, Amir
  • Cronqvist, Henrik
  • Siegel, Stephan

Abstract

Using data on identical and fraternal twins' complete financial portfolios, we decompose the cross-sectional variation in investor behavior. We find that a genetic factor explains about one-third of the variance in stock market participation and asset allocation. Family environment has an effect on the behavior of young individuals, but this effect is not long-lasting and disappears as an individual gains experience. Frequent contact among twins results in similar investment behavior beyond a genetic factor. Twins who grew up in different environments still display similar investment behavior. Our interpretation of a genetic component of the decision to invest in the stock market is that there are innate differences in factors affecting effective stock market participation costs. We attribute the genetic component of asset allocation--the relative amount invested in equities and the portfolio volatility--to genetic variation in risk preferences.

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  • Barnea, Amir & Cronqvist, Henrik & Siegel, Stephan, 2010. "Nature or nurture: What determines investor behavior?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 583-604, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:98:y:2010:i:3:p:583-604
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Portfolio Choice Investor Heterogeneity Behavioral Genetics;

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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