Comparing Uncertainty Aversion towards Different Sources

22 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2016 Last revised: 21 Jun 2018

See all articles by Aurelien Baillon

Aurelien Baillon

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Ning Liu

Beihang University School of Economics and Management

Dennie van Dolder

University of Essex - Department of Economics

Date Written: June 01, 2017

Abstract

We propose simple behavioral definitions of comparative uncertainty aversion for a single agent towards different sources of uncertainty. Our definitions allow for the comparison of utility curvature towards different sources if the agent’s choices satisfy subjective expected utility towards each source. We discuss how our definitions can be applied to investigate ambiguity aversion in Klibanoff et al.’s (2005) smooth ambiguity model, to study the effects of learning and situational factors on uncertainty preferences, and to compare uncertainty preferences between different agents.

Keywords: source-preferences, uncertainty, subjective expected utility, smooth ambiguity model

JEL Classification: D81

Suggested Citation

Baillon, Aurelien and Liu, Ning and van Dolder, Dennie, Comparing Uncertainty Aversion towards Different Sources (June 01, 2017). Theory and Decision, Vol. 83, No. 1, pp. 1-18, June 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2759334 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2759334

Aurelien Baillon (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Ning Liu

Beihang University School of Economics and Management ( email )

New main building A1005, 37 Xueyuan Rd.
Beijing, Beijing 100191
China

Dennie Van Dolder

University of Essex - Department of Economics ( email )

Wivenhoe Park
Colchester CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

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