The effect of time-varying fundamentals in Learning-to-Forecast Experiments

Alfarano, Simone and Camacho-Cuena, Eva and Colasante, Annarita and Ruiz-Buforn, Alba (2022): The effect of time-varying fundamentals in Learning-to-Forecast Experiments.

Abstract

Inspired by macroeconomic scenarios, we aim to experimentally investigate the evolution of short- and long-run expectations under different specifications of the fundamentals. We collect individual predictions for the future prices in a series of Learning to Forecast Experiments with a time-varying fundamental value. In particular, we observe how expectations evolve in markets where the fundamental value follows either a V-shaped or an inverse V-shaped pattern. These conditions are compared with markets characterized by a constant and a slightly linear increasing fundamental value. We assess whether minor but systematic variations in the fundamentals affect individual short- and long-run expectations by considering positive and negative feedback-expectation systems. Even though such variations in the fundamentals turn out not to strongly affect the way subjects form their expectations in positive feedback markets, we observe significant changes in negative feedback markets.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Long-run expectations; Coordination; Convergence; Heterogeneous expectations; Expectations feedback; Experimental economics
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C9 - Design of Experiments > C91 - Laboratory, Individual Behavior; D - Microeconomics > D0 - General > D03 - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles; G - Financial Economics > G1 - General Financial Markets > G12 - Asset Pricing ; Trading Volume ; Bond Interest Rates

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