Debunking 7½ Myths of Investing

Abstract

While investment theory and technology offer rational ways to deal with uncertainty, it is more human simply to run away from it. One place people run to is mythology, in this case investment mythology. Myths include misunderstanding the role of central banks and monetary policy; exaggerating the impact of technologies such as index funds, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and “green” energy; and believing either that markets will provide the historical rate of return forever, or the opposite, that there will never be any more growth. The authors tackle seven myths that challenge investors today, plus one (“a half”) that is part myth and part truth.