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Investment Dynamics with Natural Expectations
Andreas Fuster1, Benjamin Hebert, David Laibson
1Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Summary
Agents underestimate mean reversion, leading to overly optimistic beliefs in good times and pessimistic beliefs in bad times. This results in amplified investment cycles and excessive price volatility in financial markets.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral finance
- Macroeconomics
- Financial econometrics
Background:
- Economic agents often exhibit behavioral biases.
- Misperceptions of fundamental dynamics can impact market behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model investment behavior with underestimation of mean reversion.
- To analyze the impact of biased beliefs on asset prices and economic activity.
Main Methods:
- Development of an agent-based investment model.
- Analysis of model dynamics and resulting economic indicators.
Main Results:
- Beliefs are excessively optimistic/pessimistic.
- Asset prices and economic activity exhibit excess volatility.
- Negative autocorrelation in excess returns and medium-run corporate profits.
Conclusions:
- Underestimating mean reversion amplifies business cycles.
- Biased beliefs contribute to financial market excess volatility.
- The model illustrates 'animal spirits' and amplified economic fluctuations.
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