Abstract

DI GIANNATALE, Sonia; ELBITTAR, Alexander; LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ, Patricia  and  ROA, María José. Trust, Information Acquisition and Financial Decisions: A Field Experiment. Econ. mex. Nueva época [online]. 2013, vol.22, n.2, pp.375-401. ISSN 1665-2045.

We study the relationship between information acquisition and trust in financial decision making. A field experiment with a variation of the trust game was conducted with the partners of a financial cooperative located in a Mexican rural area. Individuals who frequently visit friends are more trustful, those who visit their families regularly reciprocate less, and active cooperative partners reciprocate more. Individuals show interest in acquiring information on the financial status and participation in social networks of other people with whom they may establish financial transactions. However, information does not appear to affect transfers; trust seems to overshadow information acquisition in financial decision making.

Keywords : social networks; information; social preferences; field experiments; trust; reciprocity; financial development.

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