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Trust as risk and the foundation of investment value

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  • Olsen, Robert A.

Abstract

Trust is an essential ingredient of the investment process because investing is complex, the world contains irreducible uncertainty, and humans are naturally predisposed to cooperate. Traditional financial models inappropriately treat trust as probability or implicitly ignore it. This paper argues that trust has both cognitive and affective attributes that make it an important determinant of perceived investment risk. Specifically, perceived risk varies inversely with trust. This paper also discusses how trust offers a logical and parsimonious explanation for many financial asset pricing anomalies. Trust is the unseen faith underlying investment value.

Suggested Citation

  • Olsen, Robert A., 2008. "Trust as risk and the foundation of investment value," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2189-2200, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:37:y:2008:i:6:p:2189-2200
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    7. Manuel Kaiser & Elisabeth S. C. Berger, 2021. "Trust in the investor relationship marketing of startups: a systematic literature review and research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 491-517, April.
    8. Linh Nguyen & Gerry Gallery & Cameron Newton, 2019. "The joint influence of financial risk perception and risk tolerance on individual investment decision‐making," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(S1), pages 747-771, April.
    9. Omotuyole Isiaka Ambali & Toritseju Begho, 2021. "Examining the relationship between farmers' perceived trust and investment preferences," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1290-1303, November.

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