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Household Portfolio Underdiversification and Probability Weighting: Evidence from the Field

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen G. Dimmock
  • Roy Kouwenberg
  • Olivia S. Mitchell
  • Kim Peijnenburg

Abstract

We explore the relation between probability weighting and household portfolio underdiversification in a representative household survey, using custom-designed incentivized lotteries. On average, people display Inverse-S shaped probability weighting, overweighting the small probabilities of tail events. As theory predicts, our Inverse-S measure is positively associated with portfolio underdiversification, which results in significant Sharpe ratio losses. We match respondents’ individual stock holdings to CRSP data and find that people with higher Inverse-S tend to pick stocks with positive skewness and hold positively-skewed equity portfolios. We show that these choices reflect preferences rather than probability unsophistication or limited financial knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen G. Dimmock & Roy Kouwenberg & Olivia S. Mitchell & Kim Peijnenburg, 2018. "Household Portfolio Underdiversification and Probability Weighting: Evidence from the Field," NBER Working Papers 24928, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24928
    Note: AG PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Xue Dong He & Moris S. Strub & Thaleia Zariphopoulou, 2019. "Forward Rank-Dependent Performance Criteria: Time-Consistent Investment Under Probability Distortion," Papers 1904.01745, arXiv.org.
    2. Daniel Gottlieb & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2020. "Narrow Framing and Long‐Term Care Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 87(4), pages 861-893, December.
    3. Wang, Lunyi & Wang, Yao & Zhang, Shunming, 2024. "Probability distortion and non-participation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    4. Yu Gao & Zhenxing Huang & Ning Liu & Jia Yang, 2024. "Are physicians rational under ambiguity?," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 68(2), pages 183-203, April.
    5. Kanin Anantanasuwong & Roy Kouwenberg & Olivia S. Mitchell & Kim Peijnenberg, 2019. "Ambiguity Attitudes about Investments: Evidence from the Field," NBER Working Papers 25561, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Cathleen Johnson & Aurélien Baillon & Han Bleichrodt & Zhihua Li & Dennie Dolder & Peter P. Wakker, 2021. "Prince: An improved method for measuring incentivized preferences," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 1-28, February.
    7. Thomas Epper & Helga Fehr-Duda, 2012. "The missing link: unifying risk taking and time discounting," ECON - Working Papers 096, Department of Economics - University of Zurich, revised Oct 2018.
    8. Glenn W. Harrison & Morten I. Lau & Hong Il Yoo, 2025. "Constant Discounting, Temporal Instability, And Dynamic Inconsistency In Denmark: A Longitudinal Field Experiment," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 66(1), pages 363-392, February.
    9. Li, Mingzhe, 2025. "A Theory of Portfolio Choice for Heterogeneous Investors," MPRA Paper 126642, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 29 Oct 2025.
    10. Kanin Anantanasuwong & Roy Kouwenberg & Olivia S. Mitchell & Kim Peijnenburg, 2024. "Ambiguity attitudes for real-world sources: field evidence from a large sample of investors," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 27(3), pages 548-581, July.
    11. Sun, Yuzhe & Zhang, Shunming, 2023. "Heterogeneity of probability weighting in investment decisions," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    12. Dittmann, Ingolf & Montone, Maurizio & Zhu, Yuhao, 2023. "Wage gap and stock returns: Do investors dislike pay inequality?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    13. Bertrand Candelon & Franz Fuerst & Jean-Baptiste Hasse Pages 126-139 Download PDF Data, Tools and Replication Section, 2021. "Diversification potential in real estate portfolios," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 166, pages 126-139.
    14. Xie, Yuxin & Tang, Ruohua & Pantelous, Athanasios A. & Lu, Xiaomeng, 2024. "Narrow framing and under-diversification: Empirical evidence from Chinese households," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    15. Jun Yuan & Qi Xu & Ying Wang, 2023. "Probability weighting in commodity futures markets," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(4), pages 516-548, April.
    16. Chen, Rongxin & Lepori, Gabriele M. & Tai, Chung-Ching & Sung, Ming-Chien, 2022. "Can salience theory explain investor behaviour? Real-world evidence from the cryptocurrency market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    17. Richard Gonzalez & George Wu, 2022. "Composition rules in original and cumulative prospect theory," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 92(3), pages 647-675, April.
    18. Jeongseop Song & Kim Hiang Liow, 2023. "Industrial tail exposure risk and asset price: Evidence from US REITs," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 51(5), pages 1209-1245, September.
    19. Nicole Hentschel, 2025. "Risk Attitudes do not explain Cash Holdings," Working Papers 25.04, Swiss National Bank, Study Center Gerzensee.
    20. Montone, Maurizio, 2023. "Beta, value, and growth: Do dichotomous risk-preferences explain stock returns?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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