Portfolio Choice with Loss Aversion, Asymmetric Risk-Taking Behavior and Segregation of Riskless Opportunities

In this paper we present a two period model, where the agent's preferences are described by prospect theory as proposed by Kahneman and Tversky. We solve for the agent's portfolio decision. Our findings are that the changes in portfolio weights depend crucially on the reference point and the ratio between the reference point and the current wealth, and thus only indirectly on the performance of the risky asset. Our model explains why investor keep on holding, or even buy, loosing investments.