Bubbling with Excitement: An Experiment
34 Pages Posted: 20 Mar 2012 Last revised: 28 Jun 2012
Date Written: March 1, 2012
Abstract
In an experimental setting, we study the role of emotions in markets. Our experimental market is modeled on those of Smith, Suchanek, and Williams (1988) and Caginalp, Porter, and Smith (2001). Participants play part in a laboratory market where they can trade a risky asset over a computer network. Prior to the market simulation, they watch short videos that are exciting and upbeat - chase scenes; neutral - segments from a historical documentary; fearful - scenes from a horror movie; or sad - scenes from a drama. Larger asset pricing bubbles develop in experimental markets run subsequent to the exciting videos relative to the other three conditions. The differences in the magnitude and amplitude of the bubbles are both economic and statistically significant.
Keywords: bubbles, emotions, experimental markets
JEL Classification: G02, G12, H30
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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