Does hope matter? While we know that individuals and families typically make key decisions based on a desire to achieve a result, we know very little about the role of hope and optimism in determining future behavior or about the links between these beliefs, behaviors, and economic outcomes.
It seems intuitive that attitudes and beliefs determine many behaviors and future choices such as education, occupation, or investments. These attitudes and beliefs also interact with objective factors such as capability and talent, leading to virtuous—or vicious—circles. Yet it is also possible that optimists mis-predict their futures, resulting in frustration and unhappiness in the long run.
