Friday, January 19, 2024

AI: Lessons From The South Sea Bubble

 From the American Economic Association:

Riding the South Sea Bubble

Peter Temin

Hans-Joachim Voth

American Economic Review
vol. 94, no. 5, December 2004
(pp. 1654-1668)
Abstract 
This paper presents a case study of a well-informed investor in the South Sea bubble. We argue that Hoare's Bank, a fledgling West End London bank, knew that a bubble was in progress and nonetheless invested in the stock: it was profitable to "ride the bubble." Using a unique dataset on daily trades, we show that this sophisticated investor was not constrained by such institutional factors as restrictions on short sales or agency problems. Instead, this study demonstrates that predictable investor sentiment can prevent attacks on a bubble; rational investors may attack only when some coordinating event promotes joint action.
The version at the AER is still gated. 
If interested here is the working paper version hosted at MIT
 
Last seen Saturday July 1, 2023 in:
*****
So, we are faced with the decision whether-or-not to play a dangerous little game, riding the bubble knowing full well it is a bubble, or retiring to the sidelines....
For now one of our favorite economists with one of our favorite stories
 
NVDA had closed the previous day (Friday) at $423.02. 
 
Addendum: NVDA closed at $594.91 on January 19.