Measures of individual risk attitudes and portfolio choice: Evidence from an investment competition

Abstract

In this paper, I employ a large incentivized student sample who are also participants of an investment competition to investigate how different risk-attitude measurements have a relation with each olher, with demographic features and to risk preferences and perceptions in the competition. The measures are self-reported willingness to take risks in general, willingness of the person to take risks in financial decisions, prudence level, ambiguity aversion and loss aversion. Firstly, it is discovered that the sample features lower risk-aversion, higher loss-aversion, higher ambiguity-aversion and higher prudence. Next, simple correlation indicates that the strongest relation between distinct measures is discovered between the self-reported willingness to take risks and loss aversion. Finally, after dividing investment transaction to two different groups, participants having more diversified portfolio exhibits more risk aversion. In addition to that, there exits a positive correlation between taking higher leverage in future contracts and being more risk lover.