Abstract

The notion that US stock prices follow a pattern that is synchronized with presidential elections has been discussed among financial investors for a long time. Academic work exists that supports this idea, quantifies the pattern and has demonstrated its robustness over several decades and across parties in power. This article takes the existence and robustness of this presidential election cycle for granted and asks whether individuals exploit it when they predict stock prices. It considers and contrasts two types of such forecasts: Those made by professionals included in the Livingston survey and those made by students in a laboratory experiment. A key result is that neither group fares particularly well, though participants in the experiment outperformed the professionals.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.