Would you choose £50,000 over the chance of £1m?
Women voted 82% in favour of the guaranteed cash.The poll has sparked a debate about why Brits appear more risk-averse than people in the US.So why are the results so clear-cut, and what are the financial and psychological factors at play? Repeat the survey but instead guarantee £5 or offer a 50/50 chance for a £100, and most people will probably go for the £100 bet. After all, lots of people bet at least £2 a week hoping for a National Lottery win.As those amounts rise, so your appetite for risk becomes clear.Why not just invest the £50k?One choice is to take the guaranteed £50,000 and hope it grows over time.
- ▪Women voted 82% in favour of the guaranteed cash.The poll has sparked a debate about why Brits appear more risk-averse than people in the US.So why are the results so clear-cut, and what are the financial and psychological factors at play?
- ▪Repeat the survey but instead guarantee £5 or offer a 50/50 chance for a £100, and most people will probably go for the £100 bet.
- ▪After all, lots of people bet at least £2 a week hoping for a National Lottery win.As those amounts rise, so your appetite for risk becomes clear.Why not just invest the £50k?One choice is to take the guaranteed £50,000 and hope it grows ov
BBC News — Business publishes from United Kingdom and files mainly under business. We currently carry 125 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Would you choose £50,000 over the chance of £1m?Image source, Getty ImagesByKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentPublished1 minute agoYou have the choice of instantly receiving £50,000 or flipping a coin for a 50/50 chance of £1m.Which would you choose?The vast majority decide on taking the £50k, according to a survey of thousands of people by YouGov. Women voted 82% in favour of the guaranteed cash.The poll has sparked a debate about why Brits appear more risk-averse than people in the US.So why are the results so clear-cut, and what are the financial and psychological factors at play? Sadly, there is little chance of ever having such a choice, but there are some interesting lessons for how we manage our money nonetheless.Do you agree with the majority?Nearly three-quarters (73%) of…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at BBC News — Business.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from BBC News — Business
