People Are Normal. They Are Sometimes Ignorant But They Are Not Stupid, Says Meir Statman

Meir Statman, the Glenn Klimek Professor of Finance, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, California, is the second generation of behavioural finance experts who refused to label people as “irrational” and instead called them “normal”. In his latest book, A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance, he expands the circle of finance to include life well-being and shows how they are inextricably intertwined. As part of an interview series, ‘Wealth Wizards: Money Maestros in conversation with Nidhi Sinha, Editor, Outlook Money’, Statman spoke about his research, and explained concepts through anecdotes that can help you take balanced decisions. Edited excerpts: Behavioural finance was a subject of much debate in its early days. Can you tell us about your experience? I came to Santa Clara University at the beginning of...