Risk aversion and expected-utility theory: A calibration exercise

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Risk and Uncertainty
Year: 2007
Volume: 35
Issue: 1
Pages: 67-76

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Rabin (Econometrica 68(5):1281–1292, 2000 ) argues that, under expected-utility, observed risk aversion over modest stakes implies extremely high risk aversion over large stakes. Cox and Sadiraj (Games Econom. Behav. 56(1):45–60, 2006 ) have replied that this is a problem of expected-utility of wealth, but that expected-utility of income does not share that problem. We combine experimental data on moderate-scale risky choices with survey data on income to estimate coefficients of relative risk aversion using expected-utility of consumption. Assuming individuals cannot save implies an average coefficient of relative risk aversion of 1.92. Assuming they can decide between consuming today and saving for the future, a realistic assumption, implies quadruple-digit coefficients. This gives empirical evidence for narrow bracketing. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:kap:jrisku:v:35:y:2007:i:1:p:67-76
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29