The Impact of Loss Aversion Bias on Herding Behavior of Young Swedish Retail Investors: A Behavioral Perspective on Young Swedish Retail Investors' Decision Making in the Stock Market
2018 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Background: Kahneman and Tversky (1974, 1979 & 1992) argue that individuals are bound to numerous behavioral biases that may lead to the emergence of different irrational behaviors. This is often observed with even a higher degree among participants of financial and stock markets as agents such as investors are frequently exposed to significant level of risk and uncertainty (Kahneman, 2013; Kahneman, Knetsch & Thaler, 1991; Kahneman & Tversky, 1974, 1979, 1992). Also, empirical studies indicate that a significant level of herding exists among investors when they are exposed to a high degree of risk and uncertainty such as those in financial crises (Galariotis, Rong & Spyrou, 2014; Litimi, 2017; Hott, 2009).
Purpose: the main purpose of this thesis is to explore if the loss aversion bias has a significant causal impact on forming herding behavior among young Swedish retail investors.
Method: an online analytical questionnaire including eight questions has been conducted to collect primary data, with 77 Swedish retail investors under the age of 35 participating in the study. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis has been implemented to analyze and interpret the data.
Conclusion: it can be concluded that there is not a significant correlation between the degree of loss aversion and the degree of herding behavior within the sample group of young Swedish retail investors. Hence, loss aversion bias cannot be considered as one of the major contributors of herding within the target population.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018.
Keywords [en]
Behavioral Finance, Loss Aversion, Herding Behavior, Swedish Retail Investors
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-39828ISRN: JU-IHH-FÖA-1-20180572OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-39828DiVA, id: diva2:1213626
Supervisors
Examiners
2018-06-152018-06-052018-06-15Bibliographically approved