INVESTOR BIASES AND THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY ON MILLENNIAL INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
Abstract
The 2024 data reveal a significant 15.07% increase in the number of individual investors in Indonesia, with the most notable growth observed among the younger demographic. This surge reflects not only a heightened awareness of investment opportunities but also the transformative role of financial technology (fintech) in democratizing access to digital investment platforms. The convenience, transparency, and user-friendly nature of these platforms have encouraged millennials and Gen Z investors to participate more actively in capital markets. Against this backdrop, the present study seeks to explore the complex interplay between financial behavior, information asymmetry, moral hazard, and investment performance, emphasizing the moderating influence of financial literacy. Drawing on survey data from 383 individual investors across Indonesia, the research employs Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to generate empirical insights. The results reveal that behavioral biases particularly heuristics and herding tendencies along with information asymmetry, exert a positive and significant impact on millennial investors’ performance. Interestingly, financial literacy emerges as a pivotal moderating variable, capable of reducing irrational tendencies and enhancing informed, rational investment decisions. These findings extend the discourse in behavioral finance by demonstrating that certain cognitive biases, under specific market conditions, may function adaptively rather than detrimentally. Conversely, moral hazard appears to have an insignificant effect, underscoring the distinct behavioral patterns characterizing Indonesia’s emerging generation of investors.
How to Cite
References
- Allen, F., Gu, X., & Jagtiani, J. (2022). Fintech, financial inclusion, and moral hazard. Journal of Financial Economics, 145(1), 28–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2022.01.003
- Anwar, M., Irbayuni, S., Wikartika, I., & Pratikto, H. (2023). Behavioral bias in investment decisions: moderate role of self-control. JPPI (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia), 9(1), 490-498. https://jurnal.iicet.org/index.php/jppi/article/view/1798
- Aulia, D., Sutrisno, S., & Siregar, H. (2021). Financial literacy, overconfidence, and investment decisions of millennials. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 22(4), 365–378
- Awais, M., et al. (2021). Behavioral biases and investment performance: Evidence from emerging markets. Heliyon, 7(6), e06572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06572
- Bai, J., Philippon, T., & Savov, A. (2020). Moral hazard in financial crises: Theory and evidence. Review of Financial Studies, 33(3), 1205–1243. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhz082
- Bannier, C. E., & Schwarz, M. (2021). Gender- and education-related effects of financial literacy on investment decisions. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 183, 188–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.12.012
- Bareksa. (2023). Investor millennials dan tantangan kinerja investasi. Jakarta: Bareksa Research.
- Bell, E., Bryman, A. (2007). The ethics of management research: An exploratory content analysis. British Journal of Management, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00487.x
- Białkowski, J., et al. (2020). Overconfidence and excessive trading. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 28, 100345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100345
- Biddle, G. C., Hilary, G., & Verdi, R. S. (2023). Investment efficiency and earnings quality: European evidence. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 75(2), 101425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2022.101425
- Bouri, E., et al. (2021). Herding behavior in cryptocurrencies. Research in International Business and Finance, 56, 101239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101239
- Bouteska, A., & Regaieg, B. (2021). Behavioral biases and portfolio performance. Research in International Business and Finance, 55, 101428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101428
- Ceschi, A., et al. (2021). Heuristics and financial decision-making. Personality and Individual Differences, 176, 110451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110451
- Chang, C. H., & Lin, T. C. (2022). Rational herding and information costs. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 33, 100706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2022.100706
- Chatterjee, A., & Sah, R. (2020). Heuristics, biases, and financial decision-making. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 87, 101564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2020.101564
- Chatterjee, A., & Sah, R. (2020). Heuristics, biases, and financial decision-making. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 87, 101564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2020.101564
- Chen, L., & Huang, R. (2023). Social media, investor sentiment, and information asymmetry. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 85, 101709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2023.101709
- Chen, Y., & Zhou, L. (2021). Moral hazard and investor protection in digital finance. Finance Research Letters, 43, 102000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102000
- Chiang, T. C., & Zheng, D. (2020). Herding in global stock markets. Journal of Empirical Finance, 59, 261–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2020.07.001
- Dang, T. L., Kim, M., & Shin, Y. (2020). Moral hazard, risk-taking, and financial market outcomes. Journal of Banking & Finance, 118, 105874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2020.105874
- Davidson, B. I., Stevens, D. E. (2013). Can a code of ethics improve manager behavior and investor confidence? An experimental study. Accounting Review, 88(1). https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-50272
- De Bondt, W. F. M. (1998). A portrait of the individual investor. European Economic Review, 42(3–5). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-2921(98)00009-9
- Duarte, F., & Hastings, J. S. (2021). Fettered consumers and sophisticated investors. Journal of Finance, 76(4), 2139–2185. https://doi.org/10.1111/jofi.13006
- Durand, R. B., Newby, R., Sanghani, J. (2008). An Intimate Portrait of the Individual Investor. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/15427560802341020
- Economou, F., et al. (2021). Herding and asset pricing. Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 81, 167–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2021.07.002
- Fang, H., et al. (2021). Anchoring bias and trading behavior. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 30, 100530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2021.100530
- Gaio, C., Gonçalves, T. C., & Cardoso, J. (2023). Investment efficiency and earnings quality: European evidence. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 16(4), 224.
- Gavrilakis, N., Floros, C. (2022). The impact of heuristic and herding biases on portfolio construction and performance: the case of Greece. Review of Behavioral Finance, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/RBF-11-2020-0295
- Gigerenzer, G., & Brighton, H. (2020). Heuristics as adaptive strategies. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 36, 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.04.009
- Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139-152.
- He, W., & Tian, X. (2022). Information asymmetry, media coverage, and investor trading behavior. Finance Research Letters, 46, 102494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102494
- Healy, P. M., & Palepu, K. G. (2001). Information asymmetry, corporate disclosure, and the capital markets: A review of the empirical disclosure literature. Journal of accounting and economics, 31(1-3), 405-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-4101(01)00018-0
- Hott, C. (2022). Leverage and risk-taking under moral hazard. Journal of Financial Services Research, 61(2), 167-185. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10693-021-00359-8
- Huang, C., & Wang, J. (2023). Margin trading, investor behavior, and moral hazard in emerging markets. Emerging Markets Review, 55, 100979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2022.100979
- IDX. (2024). Statistik Pasar Modal Indonesia. Jakarta: Bursa Efek Indonesia.
- Jiang, F., Kim, K. A., Lie, E., & Yang, S. (2020). Institutional investors and information asymmetry: Evidence from China. Journal of Corporate Finance, 62, 101590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101590
- Kallinterakis, V., & Wang, Y. (2021). Herding and investor overreaction. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 31, 100626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2021.100626
- Kasoga, P. S. (2021). Heuristic biases and investment decisions: multiple mediation mechanisms of risk tolerance and financial literacy a survey at the Tanzania stock market. Journal of Money and Business, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jmb-10-2021-0037
- Kim, D., & Choi, J. (2025). Investor overconfidence, moral hazard, and portfolio risk. Journal of Financial Markets, (in press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2025.100902
- KSEI. (2023). Data Investor Pasar Modal Indonesia 2023. Jakarta: KSEI.
- Kusnandar, B., & Setiawan, A. (2022). Financial literacy and investment decision quality. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 34, 100690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2022.100690
- Li, H., & Zhu, J. (2021). Analyst forecast dispersion, information asymmetry, and stock return predictability. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 68, 101597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2021.101597
- Li, J., Li, Q., & Wei, X. (2020). Financial literacy, household portfolio choice, and investment return. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 62, 101370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2020.101370
- Li, S., & Wu, Y. (2021). Leverage, moral hazard, and investment efficiency. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 68, 101629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2021.101629
- Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2017). How ordinary consumers make complex economic decisions: Financial literacy and retirement readiness. Quarterly Journal of Finance, 7(03), 1750008. https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S2010139217500082
- Magill, M., & Quinzii, M. (2002). Theory of incomplete markets (Vol. 1). MIT Press.
- Morgan, P. J., & Long, T. Q. (2022). Financial literacy and information asymmetry in investment. Finance Research Letters, 47, 102780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.102780
- Mousavi, S., & Gigerenzer, G. (2020). Heuristics and decision-making. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 33, 112–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.04.007
- Nguyen, T. T., Pham, H. V., & Hoang, T. (2021). Financial literacy, herding behavior, and stock market participation. Emerging Markets Review, 47, 100768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2020.100768
- Nguyen, T., & Tran, D. (2020). Corporate governance, information asymmetry, and stock liquidity. Research in International Business and Finance, 54, 101287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101287
- OECD. (2023). OECD/INFE 2023 International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy. Paris: OECD Publishing.
- Özen, E., & Ersoy, G. (2019). The impact of financial literacy on cognitive biases of individual investors. In Contemporary issues in behavioral finance (pp. 77-95). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/s1569-375920190000101007/full/html
- Park, H., & Lee, S. (2022). Moral hazard and systemic risk in retail trading platforms. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 80, 101605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2022.101605
- Pradana, A., & Nugroho, L. (2022). The role of financial literacy in moderating investment behavior of millennials. Asian Journal of Business Research, 12(2), 45–59.
- Putri, D. R., Sudiyatno, I., & Bambang Stikubank Semarang, U. (2023). The Influence Of Financial Literacy, Herding, And Regret Aversion Bias On The Investment Decisions Of The Millennial Generation. Management Studies and Entrepreneurship Journal, 4(4), 4198-4209.
- Robbins, T. W., Everitt, B. J. (2002). Dopamine Its Role in Behavior and Cognition in Experimental Animals and Humans. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-06765-9_7
- Sinander, L. (2023). Optimism and overconfidence. arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.08343. https://www.ludvigsinander.net/pdf/optim_slides.pdf
- Sivaramakrishnan, S., Srivastava, M., & Rastogi, A. (2022). Digital financial inclusion and investment behavior of young adults. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 64, 102803
- Spring, A., Kumar, P., & Tan, H. (2024). Meme stocks, retail trading, and the amplification of information asymmetry. Journal of Behavioral Finance. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427560.2024.0000000
- Stiglitz, J. E. (2020). Risk, moral hazard, and market inefficiency. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 36(3), 382–402. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/graa012
- Ullah, S., et al. (2022). Investor biases and stock returns. Finance Research Letters, 47, 103096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.103096
- Van Rooij, M., Lusardi, A., & Alessie, R. (2011). Financial literacy and stock market participation. Journal of Financial Economics, 101(2), 449-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2011.03.006
- Vo, X. V., & Phan, D. T. (2021). Herding behavior in frontier markets. Finance Research Letters, 38, 101792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2020.101792
- Wang, Y., Wu, C., & Yang, J. (2022). Retail investor attention and information asymmetry. Journal of Empirical Finance, 66, 41–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2021.11.004
- Xu, Y., & Zhang, C. (2023). Market sentiment, information asymmetry, and asset pricing. International Review of Financial Analysis, 86, 102579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102579
- Yousaf, I., et al. (2020). Herding in stock markets: Global evidence. North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 54, 101267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2020.101267
- Zhang, Q., & Xu, L. (2024). Moral hazard, governance, and household portfolio performance. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 32, 100791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2024.100791
- Zhao, Q., & Lu, Y. (2025). Artificial intelligence and the mitigation of information asymmetry in equity markets. Journal of Financial Data Science. https://doi.org/10.3905/jfds.2025.1.123
- Zhou, Y., & Wang, X. (2021). Big data, information environment, and information asymmetry in financial markets. Journal of Financial Markets, 53, 100573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmar.2021.100573