What Affects the Market’s Ability to Adjust for Optimistic Forecast Bias? Evidence from Experimental Asset Markets

Authors

Lucy F. Ackert, Kennesaw State University and Federal Reserve Bank of AtlantaFollow
Bryan K. Church, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Ping Zhang, Syracuse University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2008

Abstract

This study uses experimental asset markets to investigate the effects of experience and common knowledge on a market's ability to adjust for optimistic forecast bias. As a baseline, we find that period-end prices reflect unbiased forecasts in markets with private information and inexperienced traders. With low bias forecasts, traders need experience before price adjusts for the bias. With high bias forecasts, traders need experience and public forecast releases before price adjusts for the bias. Overall, our findings provide insight into identifying conditions that are critical for the full revelation of biased, imperfect forecasts and provide direction for future theoretical work.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jebo.2006.05.004