Personality Traits and the Perception of Macroeconomic Indicators – Survey Evidence

Andreas Orland

No 424, Ruhr Economic Papers from RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen

Abstract: I examine the determinants of both perceived inflation and unemployment in one single survey and include personality traits (BFI-S) in the analysis. This is the first survey on this topic in Germany. My sample consists of 1,771 students from different fields and levels. Using PhD students' estimates as a reference, I create categories for underestimation and overestimation of both variables. Multinomial logit regressions show that females overestimate both variables. Education and news consumption reduce misestimation. A higher level of Neuroticism is related with a higher probability to overestimate unemployment. Overstating (understating) one indicator is associated with overstating (understating) the other.

Keywords: survey; inflation perception; unemployment perception; personality traits; cross-sectional heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C20 D12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: PERSONALITY TRAITS AND THE PERCEPTION OF MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS: SURVEY EVIDENCE (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:rwirep:424

DOI: 10.4419/86788480

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