The "safe haven effect" refers to the tendency of investors to seek out safe and stable investments during times of economic uncertainty or volatility. Synonyms for this term include "flight to safety", "risk aversion", and "investor caution". During times of market instability, investors may gravitate towards traditional safe havens such as gold, government bonds, or cash. This behavior is driven by the desire to protect one's wealth and avoid taking on unnecessary risk. The safe haven effect can impact global markets and influence economic policy decisions, making it a key concept for investors and policymakers alike to understand.