Salience Theory of Choice Under Risk

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2012
Volume: 127
Issue: 3
Pages: 1243-1285

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

We present a theory of choice among lotteries in which the decision maker's attention is drawn to (precisely defined) salient payoffs. This leads the decision maker to a context-dependent representation of lotteries in which true probabilities are replaced by decision weights distorted in favor of salient payoffs. By specifying decision weights as a function of payoffs, our model provides a novel and unified account of many empirical phenomena, including frequent risk-seeking behavior, invariance failures such as the Allais paradox, and preference reversals. It also yields new predictions, including some that distinguish it from prospect theory, which we test. JEL Codes: D03, D81. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:127:y:2012:i:3:p:1243-1285
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24