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The disposition effect when deciding on behalf of others

Author

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  • Hermann, Daniel
  • Mußhoff, Oliver
  • Rau, Holger A.

Abstract

The disposition effect is a well-established phenomenon which describes the behavior of investors that are more willing to sell capital gains than capital losses. In this article we present experimental evidence on a situation where an investor decides on behalf of another person. In our setting, trading effort should only be affected by investors' intrinsic motivation, as trading actions only influence the profits of a matched person. In a control treatment, trades directly influence investors' profits. Overall, we find that trading on behalf of others increases disposition effects. In this treatment, we find that the effect is caused by inexperienced investors, characterized by a greater concern for others. Thus, trading for others results in an emotional burden for these investors, which leads to weak trading performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Hermann, Daniel & Mußhoff, Oliver & Rau, Holger A., 2017. "The disposition effect when deciding on behalf of others," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 332, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cegedp:332
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    Cited by:

    1. Bachmann, Kremena, 2024. "Do you have a choice?: Implications for belief updating and the disposition effect," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    2. Jinesh Jain & Nidhi Walia & Simarjeet Singh & Esha Jain, 2022. "Mapping the field of behavioural biases: a literature review using bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 823-855, September.
    3. Elisabeth Vollmer & Daniel Hermann & Oliver Musshoff, 2019. "The disposition effect in farmers’ selling behavior: an experimental investigation," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(2), pages 177-189, March.
    4. Stephen L Cheung, 2024. "A meta-analysis of disposition effect experiments," Working Papers 2024-02, University of Sydney, School of Economics.
    5. Ballestra, Luca Vincenzo & Guizzardi, Andrea & Mazzucchelli, Lorenzo, 2024. "Integrating narrow and wide framing disposition effect: A novel approach incorporating perceived risk and realized asset performance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 422-432.
    6. Rau, Holger A., 2021. "Time preferences in decisions for others," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    7. Hennig, Jan Christoph & Hullmann, Rieke & Rau, Holger A. & Wolff, Michael, 2021. "The hidden cost of profit sharing on participation in employee stock purchase plans," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 414, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    8. Janssen, Dirk-Jan & Li, Jiangyan & Qiu, Jianying & Weitzel, Utz, 2020. "The disposition effect and underreaction to private information," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    9. Pelster, Matthias & Hofmann, Annette, 2018. "About the fear of reputational loss: Social trading and the disposition effect," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 75-88.
    10. Liêu, L.M. & Pelster, M., 2020. "Framing and the disposition effect in a scopic regime," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 175-185.
    11. Eleonore Batteux & Eamonn Ferguson & Richard J Tunney, 2019. "Do our risk preferences change when we make decisions for others? A meta-analysis of self-other differences in decisions involving risk," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, May.
    12. Fatas, Enrique & Restrepo-Plaza, Lina, 2022. "When losses can be a gain. A large lab-in-the-field experiment on reference dependent forgiveness in Colombia," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    13. Minh-Lý Liêu, 2021. "Peer attention and the disposition effect," Working Papers Dissertations 81, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    disposition effect; experiment; decisions on behalf of others; social value orientation; loss aversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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