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Locus of Control and Consistent Investment Choices

Author

Listed:
  • Pia Pinger
  • Sebastian Schäfer
  • Heiner Schumacher

Abstract

We document that an internal locus of control can be hindering in financial mar- ket situations, where short-term outcomes are determined by chance. The reason is that internally controlled individuals may tend to (over-)react to random out- comes. Our evidence is based on an experiment in which subjects repeatedly invest in two identical, uncorrelated, risky assets and observe previous outcome realiza- tions. Under mild restrictions, the optimal strategy is to make the same choice in each period. Yet, internals are more likely to make inconsistent risk choices. The effect size of locus of control is comparable with that of cognitive ability. Among inconsistent subjects, average switching behavior is in line with the gambler’s fal- lacy. However, choices of very internally controlled individuals tend to correspond to the hot hand fallacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Pia Pinger & Sebastian Schäfer & Heiner Schumacher, 2018. "Locus of Control and Consistent Investment Choices," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2018_015, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2018_015
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    File URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp015
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    Cited by:

    1. Cheng, Zhiming & Guo, Liwen & Smyth, Russell & Tani, Massimiliano, 2022. "Childhood adversity and energy poverty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Caliendo, Marco & Cobb-Clark, Deborah A. & Silva-Goncalves, Juliana & Uhlendorff, Arne, 2024. "Locus of control and the preference for agency," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Salamanca, Nicolás & de Grip, Andries & Fouarge, Didier & Montizaan, Raymond, 2020. "Locus of control and investment in risky assets," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 548-568.
    4. Marco Caliendo & Juliane Hennecke, 2022. "Drinking is different! Examining the role of locus of control for alcohol consumption," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(5), pages 2785-2815, November.
    5. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2022. "Protestantism and energy poverty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. Mesplé-Somps, Sandrine & Nilsson, Björn, 2023. "Role models, aspirations and desire to migrate," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 819-839.
    7. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2022. "Local area crime and energy poverty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    8. Humphrey, Steven J. & Mondorf, Stefan, 2021. "Testing the causes of betrayal aversion," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    9. S Kannadas & Mousumi Sengupta, 2023. "Impact of Locus of Control on Financial Risk-Taking Behaviour: A Perception Study among Married Earning Women in India," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 5, pages 143-159.
    10. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2021. "Locus of control and energy poverty," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    11. repec:ces:ceswps:_9253 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. D’Exelle, Ben & Munro, Alistair & Verschoor, Arjan, 2024. "Agricultural investment behaviour and contingency: Experimental evidence from Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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