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Countercyclical risk aversion: Beyond financial professionals

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  • König-Kersting, Christian
  • Trautmann, Stefan T.

Abstract

We test if Cohn et al.’s (2015) experimental results on countercyclical risk aversion exhibited by financial professionals generalize to a standard student sample. In our sample, we do not find an effect of stock market bust or boom on subjects’ investments. We do not find a systematic emotional reaction, nor do we find an effect of variation in the emotional state (especially fear) on investment. Our results add to the literature documenting behavioral differences between financial professionals and non-professionals and, taking a policy perspective, underline the need for careful external validity checks of single sample experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • König-Kersting, Christian & Trautmann, Stefan T., 2018. "Countercyclical risk aversion: Beyond financial professionals," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 94-101.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:beexfi:v:18:y:2018:i:c:p:94-101
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbef.2018.03.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Huber, Christoph & Huber, Jürgen & Kirchler, Michael, 2021. "Market shocks and professionals’ investment behavior – Evidence from the COVID-19 crash," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Aragó, V. & Barreda-Tarrazona, I. & Breaban, A. & Matallín, J.C. & Salvador, E., 2022. "Market risk aversion under volatility shifts: An experimental study," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 552-568.
    4. Weber, Martin & Kieren, Pascal & Mueller-Dethard, Jan, 2020. "Why so Negative? Belief Formation and Risk Taking in Boom and Bust Markets," CEPR Discussion Papers 14647, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Bottasso, Anna & Duchêne, Sébastien & Guerci, Eric & Hanaki, Nobuyuki & Noussair, Charles N., 2022. "Higher order risk attitudes of financial experts," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C).
    6. Zhu, Chao & Zhang, Yuwei & Yi, Zhen, 2021. "The high frequency risk attitude implied by the volatility risk premium," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Jean Paul Rabanal & Aleksei Chernulich & John Horowitz & Olga A. Rud & Manizha Sharifova, 2019. "Market timing under public and private information," Working Papers 151, Peruvian Economic Association.
    8. Schwaiger, Rene & Kirchler, Michael & Lindner, Florian & Weitzel, Utz, 2020. "Determinants of investor expectations and satisfaction. A study with financial professionals," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Vasudevan, Ellapulli V., 2023. "Some gains are riskier than others: Volatility changes and the disposition effect," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 68-81.
    10. Nikhil Masters & Tim Lloyd & Chris Starmer, 2022. "Do emotional carryover effects carry over?," Discussion Papers 2022-16, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    11. Abed Rabbani & Wookjae Heo & John E. Grable, 2021. "The role of financial literacy in describing the use of professional financial advisors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(4), pages 226-236, December.
    12. Cordes, Henning & Nolte, Sven & Schneider, Judith C., 2023. "Dynamics of stock market developments, financial behavior, and emotions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk aversion; Business cycle; Priming;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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