Personality Traits and the Perception of Macroeconomic Indicators – Survey Evidence

I examine the determinants of both perceived inflation and unemployment in one single survey and include personality traits (BFI-S) in the analysis. This is the first survey on this topic in Germany. My sample consists of 1,771 students from different fields and levels. Using PhD students’ estimates as a reference, I create categories for underestimation and overestimation of both variables. Multinomial logit regressions show that females overestimate both variables. Education and news consumption reduce misestimation. A higher level of Neuroticism is related with a higher probability to overestimate unemployment. Overstating (understating) one indicator is associated with overstating (understating) the other.