Deception and Reception: The Behavior of Information Providers and Users
39 Pages Posted: 7 Oct 2013 Last revised: 18 May 2017
Date Written: March 20, 2017
Abstract
We investigate the behavior of information providers (underwriters) and users (investors) in a controlled laboratory experiment where underwriters have incentives to deceive and investors have incentives to avoid deception. Participants play simultaneously as underwriters and investors in one-shot information transmission games. The results of our experiment show a significant proportion of both deceptive and non-deceptive underwriters. Despite the presence of deceptive underwriters, investors are receptive to underwriters’ reports, gleaning information content, albeit overly optimistic. Within our sample, deception by underwriters and reception by investors are the most profitable strategies. Moreover, participants who send deceptive reports to investors, but at the same time are receptive to reports of underwriters, earn the highest payoffs. These results call into question the characterization of duped investors being irrational.
Keywords: experiment, strategic communication, risk, deception, investment advice
JEL Classification: C72, C91
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation