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Stock Market Participation: New Empirical Evidence from Italian Households'Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Attilio Gardini

    (Department of Statistics, University of Bologna)

  • Alessandro Magi

    (Department of Statistics, University of Bologna)

Abstract

This paper provides new and updated empirical evidence about the stockholding behavior of Italian households. By exploiting Bank of Italy SHIW data, we find that in the period 2000-2004 stock market participation rates declined markedly, in contrast with what happened in other European countries and in the U.S. In order to understand this fact, we propose some explanations based on the estimation results of crosssectional and panel data probit regressions. We stress the importance of irrationality and myopic behavior and their relationships with the level of investors’ education.

Suggested Citation

  • Attilio Gardini & Alessandro Magi, 2007. "Stock Market Participation: New Empirical Evidence from Italian Households'Behavior," Giornale degli Economisti, GDE (Giornale degli Economisti e Annali di Economia), Bocconi University, vol. 66(1), pages 93-114, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gde:journl:gde_v66_n1_p93-114
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nicholas Apergis & Tasawar Hayat & Tareq Saeed, 2019. "The Role of Happiness in Financial Decisions: Evidence from Financial Portfolio Choice and Five European Countries," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 47(3), pages 343-360, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    stock market participation; probit regression; behavioral finance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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