Investor Overconfidence and the Forward Premium Puzzle

Craig Burnside, Bing Han, David Hirshleifer and Tracy Yue Wang

No 15866, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We offer an explanation for the forward premium puzzle in foreign exchange markets based upon investor overconfidence. In the model, overconfident individuals overreact to their information about future inflation, which causes greater overshooting in the forward rate than in the spot rate. Thus, when agents observe a signal of higher future inflation, the consequent rise in the forward premium predicts a subsequent downward correction of the spot rate. The model can explain the magnitude of the forward premium bias and several other stylized facts related to the joint behavior of forward and spot exchange rates. Our approach is also consistent with the availability of profitable carry trade strategies.

JEL-codes: F31 G15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba and nep-ifn
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published as Craig Burnside & Bing Han & David Hirshleifer & Tracy Yue Wang, 2011. "Investor Overconfidence and the Forward Premium Puzzle," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 78(2), pages 523-558.

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Journal Article: Investor Overconfidence and the Forward Premium Puzzle (2011)
Working Paper: Investor Overconfidence and the Forward Premium Puzzle (2010)
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