Why Are Professional Forecasters Biased? Agency versus Behavioral Explanations

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1996
Volume: 111
Issue: 1
Pages: 21-40

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Professional forecasters may not simply aim to minimize expected squared forecast errors. In models with repeated forecasts the pattern of forecasts reveals valuable information about the forecasters even before the outcome is realized. Rational forecasters will compromise between minimizing errors and mimicking prediction patterns typical of able forecasters. Simple models based on this argument imply that forecasts are biased in the direction of forecasts typical of able forecasters. Our models of strategic bias are rejected empirically as forecasts are biased in directions typical of forecasters with large mean squared forecast errors. This observation is consistent with behavioral explanations of forecast bias.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:111:y:1996:i:1:p:21-40.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29