A person’s cultural and regional background has a big influence on his or her investment decision, says the SEBI Investor Survey 2015 report. The study, which observed investor behaviour across various zones, tried to find out the significance of geography in financial decisions.
The report says, “A pan-Indian survey that focuses on drawing out regional and cultural disparities, which strongly influence investment behaviour and investment instrument unmistakably shows that even after controlling for other factors like income and education, cultural and geographical influences strongly impact investment decisions.”
The survey shows that 51% of respondents, who have financial investments, are from the west zone while a mere 7% reside in the south zone. Similarly, the north and east zones constitute 27% and 15%, respectively.
Of the 9,993 individuals surveyed, only 2,700 (or 27%) made financial investments.
The survey says this regional difference persists even among high-income and higher- educated groups.
Investors across regions
Source: SEBI Investor Survey 2015