Financial euphoria is fueled by the belief in perpetually rising asset prices from "summary" of A Short History of Financial Euphoria by John Kenneth Galbraith
The notion that asset prices will always go up is a powerful and dangerous force in the world of finance. It can lead investors to make risky decisions based on unrealistic expectations of perpetual growth. This belief in never-ending price appreciation creates a sense of euphoria that can cloud judgment and lead to irrational exuberance. When people are caught up in this euphoria, they tend to ignore warning signs and dismiss any evidence that contradicts their rosy outlook. They become convinced that the market will continue to rise indefinitely, and any dips or corrections are seen as temporary setbacks rather than signs of a bubble about to burst. This relentless optimism fuels a feedback loop where rising prices attract more buyers, which in turn drives prices even higher. This self-reinforcing cycle can create a sense of invincibility among investors, who feel like they can't lose as long as they stay on the bandwagon of ever-increasing asset prices. However, as history has shown time and time again, this belief in perpetual growth is nothing more than a mirage. Asset prices cannot rise forever, and eventually, they must come back down to earth. When this inevitable correction occurs, the euphoria quickly turns to panic as investors rush to sell off their overvalued assets before they lose everything. In the aftermath of a financial bubble bursting, the once exuberant investors are left to pick up the pieces of their shattered portfolios. The painful realization that their belief in perpetually rising asset prices was nothing more than a delusion serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of financial euphoria.
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