


06/2009
The mainstream economists account of financial crises - based on rational expectations, maximization of stable utility functions, information shocks - is currently called into question by recent research in psychology and neuroscience. The latter research portrays peoples financial decisions as the outcome of emotional reactions to ambiguity and uncertainty, swings of confidence and trust due to "animal spirits," herd behaviour and other social interactions, shifts in moral responsibility due to changes in social norms, and other mental, social and anthropological forces.
What are the circumstances under which the economic or psychological approaches are likely to be dominant? How should policy makers, bankers and investors be made aware of these circumstances? What are the implications of the psychological approach, alongside the traditional economic one, for investment strategies, financial practices, and financial regulation? What are the implications for risk-management practices by business? How should our financial instruments and institutions be redesigned on the basis of these insights?