Visual Finance: The Pervasive Effects of Red on Investor Behavior
Publication Date
6-27-2017
Abstract
Visual communication of financial information is commonplace and involves numerous facets, such as the use color. However, perception of color influences behavior. Using eight laboratory experiments, including a consequential stock trading task, we show that using red color to represent financial data impacts individuals' risk preferences, expectations of future stock returns, and trading decisions. The effects are not present in colorblind individuals and are muted in China, where red represents prosperity. Salience effects do not drive the findings. Overall, we demonstrate that simple perceptual processes influence complex investor behavior, which is important given society's increasing reliance on visual communication.
Document Type
Article
Keywords
Color psychology, experimental finance, household finance
Disciplines
Marketing
DOI
10.2139/ssrn.2992812
Source
SMU Cox: Marketing (Topic)
Language
English
