We examine how learning and memory influence portfolio decisions. We confirm the puzzling finding that learning is limited. To investigate why, we follow the psychology literature on memory, which indicates that individuals recall their first (primacy) and last (recency) decisions. Reliance on...

We show that geographical variation in the level of investor sophistication influences local asset prices. Investors in less sophisticated regions exhibit stronger trading correlations, and correspondingly, the returns of firms headquartered in less sophisticated areas are more strongly...

This study examines the stock market entry and exit decisions of U.S. households. We find that around 25% of households enter or exit from their non-retirement investment accounts biennially. Cross-sectional and time-series tests indicate that income risk affects equity ownership turnover. A...

We examine whether grit affects individuals' preferences and trading decisions. Grit is the sustained effort toward a goal despite setbacks. It is malleable and distinct from the Big Five personality traits. Using experiments formalized in prospect theory, we find that grit reduces loss...