Bubbles, crashes and the human condition

RedTiger · December 8, 2008 4:26PM

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200812/financial-bubbles
link

Readers know I am a big fan of theory, and also a big proponent of psychology and markets. The Atlantic article delves into both and why irrational behavior occurs, over and over again, even with the same participants that should know better in a game where everyone has exactly the same precise information.

Greed and fear drive markets the world over. No matter what is being traded, markets are more alike than different. Add in a less than perfect informational exchange, mix in some smart money, and some dumb money and the theory would do well to simulate a real market.

ProofCollection · December 8, 2008 11:02PM

Thank you. Neat article.

COINB0Y · December 8, 2008 11:07PM

Me 2, I love this kinda stuff!

57loaded · December 9, 2008 1:53AM

"In fact, the people who make the most money in these experiments aren’t the ones who stick to fundamentals. They’re the speculators who buy a lot at the beginning and sell midway through, taking advantage of “momentum traders” who jump in when the market is going up, don’t sell until it’s going down, and wind up with the least money at the end..."

quote above from RedTiger's article link

reminds me of the 2006 ASE anniversary sets

and when the 08/07 ASE's were discovered....

secondrepublic · December 9, 2008 3:29AM

excellent article

Bear · December 9, 2008 9:37AM

The only bubbles that people should be allowed

to participate in are.......BLOWING SOAP BUBBLES.

Baley · February 8, 2015 1:24PM

Very interesting, and worth another look

bluelobster · February 9, 2015 2:34AM

No question in my mind, that many markets trade similarly, some just have a lot more beta and some markets are more apt to trade in a range.
There are many aspects humans don't control, but human psychology is always the the final arbiter of price. Overtime, I have learned it's a lot easier to make better returns fading dumb money, than following it, it's just that the toughest part is figuring out who's the dumbest, you or the other side of the trade ;~

derryb · June 28, 2015 12:18AM

". . . the best way to deal with a bubble is to not let it happen in the first place. The second best way is to let it pop and allow the market to clean up the mess. The absolute wrong way to manage a bubble is to intervene from the top to keep it going. Look where that has gotten Japan and the US." - John Rubino

derryb · June 28, 2015 9:05AM

For the equity holders worried about Greek Monday

Baley · June 29, 2015 2:22AM

<< For the equity holders worried about Greek Monday >>

what a great video! look how young they are, and how small the audience! That film clip is older than I am.

No nervous breakdown, today at least.

Baley · June 29, 2015 2:27AM

You know, it occurs to me, with the words "bubble" and "crash" on everyone's mind and lips every day, how can there ever be another bubble? Read the OP article again.. people learn to anticipate and "get out ahead", and this moderates the bubble itself, diffusing most of the energy before too much overreaction and damage is done. Look at the orderly collapse of metals prices the past few years.. easy down we go..

derryb · June 29, 2015 10:33AM

Herd mentality will always allow bubbles to form and to pop.

cohodk · June 30, 2015 12:45PM

<< Herd mentality will always allow bubbles to form and to pop. >>

I wish we had a bubble every other year....great opportunity to make some money.

bidask · June 30, 2015 10:39PM

In the current market environment I think there are plenty of bulls and bears.....

Which suggests to me we are not in a stock bubble.

DrBuster · June 30, 2015 10:41PM

<< 

<< Herd mentality will always allow bubbles to form and to pop. >>

I wish we had a bubble every other year....great opportunity to make some money.

>>

Agreed. Blood in the streets they say.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 30, 2015 11:23PM

Let's revisit this in 7 more years.

derryb · July 3, 2015 9:39AM

<< Let's revisit this in 7 more years. >>

Better make it two.

Bubbles, crashes and the human condition

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