Just How Much Do Individual Investors Lose by Trading?
Posted: 25 Jan 2009
There are 2 versions of this paper
Just How Much Do Individual Investors Lose By Trading?
Date Written: February 2009
Abstract
Individual investor trading results in systematic and economically large losses. Using a complete trading history of all investors in Taiwan, we document that the aggregate portfolio of individuals suffers an annual performance penalty of 3.8 percentage points. Individual investor losses are equivalent to 2.2% of Taiwan's gross domestic product or 2.8% of the total personal income. Virtually all individual trading losses can be traced to their aggressive orders. In contrast, institutions enjoy an annual performance boost of 1.5 percentage points, and both the aggressive and passive trades of institutions are profitable. Foreign institutions garner nearly half of institutional profits.
Keywords: G11, G14, G15, H31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Brad M. Barber (Contact Author)
University of California, Davis ( email )
Graduate School of Management
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
United States
530-752-0512 (Phone)
530-752-2924 (Fax)
Terrance Odean
University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business ( email )
545 Student Services Building, #1900
2220 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States
510-642-6767 (Phone)
510-666-2561 (Fax)
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