Word-of-mouth communication and financial decision making

Authors Hwang
Year 2022
Type Working Paper | Literature Review Paper
Abstract I review the empirical literature on word of mouth (WOM) among investors. I begin with an outline of the empirical challenges that WOM research faces and possible strategies to overcome those challenges. I then discuss recent studies on WOM among retail and institutional investors. The research to date provides compelling evidence that WOM importantly determines investment decisions. On balance, the information transmitted through WOM does not appear to help investors make better investment decisions. I explore possible reasons. I also discuss potential asset pricing implications, the emergence of social technologies, and possible avenues for future research.
Keywords Social asset pricing, social finance, investor psychology, investor behavior, asset prices
URL https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4118285
Tags Asset Pricing, Trading Volume and Market Efficiency  |   Financing- and Investment Decisions (Individual)  |   Investment Decisions (Institutional)  |   Propagation of Noise / Undesirable Outcomes  |   Social Network Structure  |   Social Transmission Biases