Afraid of the stock market

Year of Publication
2019
Author
Journal
Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting
Volume
53
Number of Pages
773–810
ISSN Number
0924-865X
Abstract

This study demonstrates the way investors psychological traits influence their financial behaviors in the stock market. Results from the Health and Retirement Study show that anxious individuals are reluctant to participate in the stock market and have a lower level of risky investments. Anxiety’s effect is more pronounced for less educated investors, implying that anxiety about the unknown stock market drives this effect. Analysis of individual traumatic experiences as instruments for the current anxiety level suggests a causal effect of anxiety on investment decisions.

Type of Article
Journal
URL
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11156-018-0766-x
DOI
10.1007/s11156-018-0766-x
Short Title
Rev Quant Finan Acc
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