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Stochastic choice and preference reversals


Alos-Ferrer, Carlos; Buckenmaier, Johannes; Garagnani, Michele (2021). Stochastic choice and preference reversals. Working paper series / Department of Economics 370, University of Zurich.

Abstract

Preferences over risky alternatives can be elicited by different methods, including direct pairwise choices and willingness-to-accept valuations. The results are frequently at odds, casting doubts on the foundations of economics. We develop a stochastic choice model predicting when inconsistencies across elicitation methods should occur, the type of anomalies to be expected, what determines their magnitude, and whether they uncover a bias or not. While some anomalies can be traced back to individual biases, other apparent anomalies can occur in the absence of any actual behavioral bias, as a consequence of regularities in stochastic choice, risk attitudes, and experimental design. The model delivers new predictions that are confirmed in five experiments on the classical preference reversal phenomenon. Our novel empirical approach relies on utilities estimated out of sample, which allow us to test the model and also show that the bias in willingness-to-accept valuations is limited to long shots.

Abstract

Preferences over risky alternatives can be elicited by different methods, including direct pairwise choices and willingness-to-accept valuations. The results are frequently at odds, casting doubts on the foundations of economics. We develop a stochastic choice model predicting when inconsistencies across elicitation methods should occur, the type of anomalies to be expected, what determines their magnitude, and whether they uncover a bias or not. While some anomalies can be traced back to individual biases, other apparent anomalies can occur in the absence of any actual behavioral bias, as a consequence of regularities in stochastic choice, risk attitudes, and experimental design. The model delivers new predictions that are confirmed in five experiments on the classical preference reversal phenomenon. Our novel empirical approach relies on utilities estimated out of sample, which allow us to test the model and also show that the bias in willingness-to-accept valuations is limited to long shots.

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Additional indexing

Item Type:Working Paper
Communities & Collections:03 Faculty of Economics > Department of Economics
Working Paper Series > Department of Economics
Dewey Decimal Classification:330 Economics
JEL Classification:D01, D81, D91
Uncontrolled Keywords:Stochastic choice, preference elicitation, preference reversals, behavioral biases, lottery choice
Language:English
Date:July 2021
Deposited On:14 Dec 2020 16:37
Last Modified:16 Mar 2022 08:04
Series Name:Working paper series / Department of Economics
Number of Pages:55
ISSN:1664-705X
Additional Information:Revised version
OA Status:Green
Official URL:https://www.econ.uzh.ch/en/research/workingpapers.html?paper-id=1052
  • Content: Updated Version
  • Language: English
  • Description: Revised version July 2021
  • Content: Published Version
  • Language: English
  • Permission: Download for registered users
  • Description: Version December 2020