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Contribution Details

Type Working Paper
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title A Stochastic Expected Utility Theory
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Pavlo R Blavatskyy
Language
  • English
Institution University of Zurich
Series Name Working paper series / Institute for Empirical Research in Economics
Number No. 231
ISSN 1424-0459
Date 2005
Abstract Text This paper proposes a new model that explains the violations of expected utility theory throughnthe role of random errors. The paper analyzes decision making under risk when individuals makenrandom errors when they compute expected utilities. Errors are drawn from the normal distribution, which is truncated so that the stochastic utility of a lottery cannot be greater (lower) than the utility of the highest (lowest) possible outcome. The standard deviation of random errors is higher for lotteries with a wider range of possible outcomes. It converges to zero for lotteries converging to a degenerate lottery. The model explains all major stylized empirical facts such as the Allais paradox and the fourfold pattern of risk attitudes. The model fits the data from tennwell-known experimental studies at least as good as cumulative prospect theory.
Official URL http://www.econ.uzh.ch/wp.html
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