How The Decoy Effect Distorts Your Investment Judgments

Behavioral Economics with Fexingo: Decision Making, Bias, and How People Really Spend · Oct 12, 2026 · 8m · transcript

We explore how the decoy effect, a staple of consumer marketing, quietly infiltrates investment portfolios. Using the classic three-option pricing model from the New Yorker popcorn study and modern mutual fund structures, we show how adding an inferior 'middle' option manipulates perceived value. Lucas and Luna break down why investors often choose the asset that isn't the best deal simply because it looks like the winner in a rigged comparison. This episode provides a concrete framework for spotting these traps in your own brokerage account.

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