Mood, firm behavior, and aggregate economic outcomes

Vidhi Chhaochharia, Dasol Kim, George M. Korniotis and Alok Kumar

Journal of Financial Economics, 2019, vol. 132, issue 2, 427-450

Abstract: This study examines whether mood affects the aggregate state-level macroeconomy through its impact on firm-level decisions. Using sky cloud cover as a proxy for mood, we show that mood affects the economic expectations of small business managers. After relatively sunnier periods, managers have more optimistic expectations, and the component of their expectations related to mood influences hiring and investment decisions. Consequently, mood affects state-level job creation and new business starts, especially during periods of greater economic uncertainty. These results suggest that mood-induced economic expectations influence firm-level managerial decisions and state-level macroeconomic fluctuations.

Keywords: Cloud cover; Mood; Small business managers; Firm investment behavior; Managerial optimism; State-level Business cycles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E32 E44 G30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:132:y:2019:i:2:p:427-450

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2018.10.010

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