Minimum Age Requirement for Independent Stock Market Trading

Evidence for the bill, 

• Data / Trends:
  Stock markets are volatile, and inexperienced investors often face higher risks of losses. Studies show financial literacy generally increases with age and experience.

• “This claim assumes younger investors are more vulnerable due to lower financial literacy. It would be useful to see empirical data comparing investment outcomes by age group rather than generalizing from literacy trends.”

• Experts:
  Financial advisors and economists commonly argue that investing requires understanding risk, long-term strategy, and market behavior.

• “Experts may be biased toward caution due to professional risk management perspectives. Retail investors sometimes succeed with simpler strategies, so expertise alone may not fully justify regulation.”

• Historical Examples:
  Market crashes (such as the 2008 financial crisis) demonstrate how quickly investments can lose value, which may heavily impact inexperienced traders.

• “Market crashes highlight risks, but volatility affects all investors regardless of age. The key issue may be risk tolerance and education  with experience on the market rather than age alone.”

• Ethics / Consumer Protection:
  Age restrictions may protect young individuals from making high-risk financial decisions before they fully understand consequences

• “Age restrictions protect against harm, but they also limit autonomy. There is tension between paternalism (protecting individuals) and personal freedom in financial decision-making.”