Multiple-Self Models in Neuroeconomics - A Methodological Critique

Abstract:     
The idea of multiple-self models in economics is that individual identity is the equilibrium result of the strategic interaction between sub-personal selves. These models fill the gap of standard rational choice theory in explaining inter-temporal inconsistency of choices. This modelling procedure requires an extension of revealed preference theory to the sub-personal level. This extension is grounded in the assumption that sub-personal selves are economic agents to whom analytical tools of microeconomics apply. I claim that this assumption is false and entails the empirical methodology of functional localization that fails to provide robust results.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 20

Keywords: multiple-self, rationality, as if, functional localization, robustness

working papers series