Does Money Illusion Delude Investors?

Abstract

This study investigates the role of money illusion in a broad set of anomaly-based strategies. To the extent that anomalies reflect mispricing, I examine whether money illusion predicts anomaly returns. I find that, following periods of high inflation, anomalies are stronger and returns in short leg portfolios are lower. However, following periods of deflation, returns in short leg portfolios are not lower and long-short strategies are not profitable. These findings indicate that money-illusioned investors excessively extrapolate the upside potential of stocks in short leg portfolios following periods of high inflation and, subsequently, experience negative returns. I find the effect of money illusion to remain largely unchanged after controlling for sentiment. Overall, this study presents evidence that money illusion leads to mispricing in the stock market.