Heterogeneous Expectations, Dynamics, and Stability of Markets

This paper examines the role of heterogeneous beliefs in a cobweb model. We proceed in two stages. First, two groups of agents are distinguished. They are either fundamentalists, or chartists. The latter specify the expected price from an adaptive process, the former have a "rational behaviour". Second, agents may choose between rational expectations and an adaptive process. We demonstrate twofold. The market behaviour of fundamentalists compared to chartists promotes market stability. Market stability may emerge depending on the specification of the expectations and the intensity of switching between the two behaviours.