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What Makes a Good Trader? On the Role of Quant Skills, Behavioral Biases and Intuition on Trader Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Brice Corgnet

    (Economic Science Institute & Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University)

  • Mark DeSantis

    (Economic Science Institute & Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University)

  • David Porter

    (Economic Science Institute & Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University)

Abstract

We study the determinants of individual trader performance by conducting a comprehensive analysis of a broad range of variables that have been studied separately in different strands of the literature (financial literacy, cognitive skills, behavioral biases and the theory of mind). We utilize an experimental trading environment that allows us to control information flows into the market and measure a large set of individual characteristics. We show that behavioral biases (such as overconfidence and the failure to understand random sampling) significantly explain trader performance whereas standard cognitive and theory of mind skills only have a marginal effect. These results support the recent effort to incorporate Behavioral Finance research findings into the financial training curriculum.

Suggested Citation

  • Brice Corgnet & Mark DeSantis & David Porter, 2015. "What Makes a Good Trader? On the Role of Quant Skills, Behavioral Biases and Intuition on Trader Performance," Working Papers 15-17, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:15-17
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Brice Corgnet & Mark Desantis & David Porter, 2018. "What Makes a Good Trader? On the Role of Intuition and Reflection on Trader Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 73(3), pages 1113-1137, June.
    2. Penalver, Adrian & Hanaki, Nobuyuki & Akiyama, Eizo & Funaki, Yukihiko & Ishikawa, Ryuichiro, 2020. "A quantitative easing experiment," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Dickinson, David L. & Chaudhuri, Ananish & Greenaway-McGrevy, Ryan, 2017. "Trading While Sleepy? Circadian Mismatch and Excess Volatility in a Global Experimental Asset Market," IZA Discussion Papers 10984, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Utz Weitzel & Christoph Huber & Jürgen Huber & Michael Kirchler & Florian Lindner & Julia Rose & Lauren Cohen, 2020. "Bubbles and Financial Professionals," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(6), pages 2659-2696.
    5. Artem Stopochkin & Inessa Sytnik & Janusz Wielki & Nataliia Zemlianska, 2021. "Methodology for Building Trader's Investment Strategy Based on Assessment of the Market Value of the Company," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 913-935.
    6. Brice Corgnet & Mark DeSantis & David Porter, 2015. "Revisiting Information Aggregation in Asset Markets: Reflective Learning & Market Efficiency," Working Papers 15-15, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Experimental asset markets; behavioral finance; cognitive ability; financial education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles

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