Clouded Judgment: The Role of Sentiment in Credit Origination
47 Pages Posted: 8 Jan 2016 Last revised: 19 Mar 2016
Date Written: January 7, 2016
Abstract
Using daily fluctuations in local sunshine as an instrument for sentiment, we study its effect on day-to-day decisions of lower-level financial officers. Positive sentiment is associated with higher credit approvals, and negative sentiment has the opposite effect of a larger magnitude. These effects are stronger when financial decisions require more discretion, when reviews are less automated, and when capital constraints are less binding. The variation in approval rates affects ex post financial performance and produces significant real effects. Our analysis of the economic channels suggests that sentiment influences managers' risk tolerance and subjective judgment.
Keywords: behavioral finance, managerial biases, mood, sentiment, weather
JEL Classification: D03, G02
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation