Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/79561 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
SFB 649 Discussion Paper No. 2013-036
Publisher: 
Humboldt University of Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649 - Economic Risk, Berlin
Abstract: 
Due to data limitations and the absence of testable, model-based predictions, theory and evidence on herd behavior are only loosely connected. This paper attempts to close this gap in the herding literature. From a theoretical perspective, we use numerical simulations of a herd model to derive new, theory-based predictions for aggregate herding intensity. From an empirical perspective, we employ high-frequency, investor-specific trading data to test the theory-implied impact of information risk and market stress on herding. Confirming model predictions, our results show that herding intensity increases with information risk. In contrast, herding measures estimated for the nancial crisis period cannot be explained by the herd model. This suggests that the correlation of trades observed during the crisis is mainly due to the common reaction of investors to new public information and should not be misinterpreted as herd behavior.
Subjects: 
Herd Behavior
Institutional Trading
Model Simulation
JEL: 
G11
G24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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