The Role of Financial Literacy in Mediating Overconfidence, Representativeness, Anchoring, and Availability Bias on Investment Decisions

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between heuristic behavioral biases and investment decision-making among Generation Z in Banyumas Regency, based on Behavioral Finance Theory and Heuristic Behaviour Theory, using financial literacy as a mediator in the decision-making process. The methods used in this study are quantitative, employing purposive sampling techniques with data from Generation Z in Banyumas who invest in financial and real assets, comprising 282 respondents aged 18-29 years. Data were collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using the SmartPLS method to test the relationship among variables in the research model, as measured through questionnaire indicators. The results showed that availability has a significant positive direct effect on investment decisions; overconfidence and availability have significant positive effects mediated by financial literacy; whereas representativeness does not have a significant effect on investment decisions, either directly or indirectly. A key finding of this study is that financial literacy partially mediates heuristic behavior regarding investment decisions. The results of this study indicated that the higher a person’s financial literacy, the more rational they will be in making investment decisions to achieve returns on their investments.