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Home bias in portfolio choices: social learning among partially informed agents

Author

Listed:
  • Wen-Lin Wu

    (Feng Chia University)

  • Yin-Feng Gau

    (National Central University)

Abstract

Using an ‘incomplete information’ model, we explore the role of social learning in the global portfolio choices of stock market investors. When partially informed followers attempt to estimate true domestic (home) mean returns, they likely acquire private domestic signals from partially informed leaders. However, the calibration results indicate the existence of home bias when partially informed agents have poor quality information. Partially informed agents are prone to a learning bias; they overreact to new domestic information due to overconfidence in their domestic private signals, but they demonstrate a conservative response to new information in foreign markets. Links between the private signals of partially informed agents may lead to correlated foreign investment strategies among such agents through social learning. We suggest the acquisition of private signals, along with the dissemination of information, affect international portfolio decision rules and are determinants of the phenomenon of home bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen-Lin Wu & Yin-Feng Gau, 2017. "Home bias in portfolio choices: social learning among partially informed agents," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 527-556, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:48:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11156-016-0560-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-016-0560-6
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social learning; International asset allocation; Home bias; Prior beliefs; Observational learning;
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    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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