Optimism and Overconfidence in Search

B-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Dynamics
Year: 2004
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Pages: 198-218

Score contribution per author:

2.018 = (α=2.02 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

In a standard search model I relax the assumption that agents know the distribution of offers and characterize the behavioral and welfare consequences of overconfidence. Optimistic individuals search longer than pessimists if they are equally "stubborn" and high offers are good news. Otherwise, the pessimists search longer. The welfare of unbiased individuals is larger than that of overconfident decision makers if the latter's biases are large and searchers stubborn. Otherwise, the overconfident may be better off. Finally, I give a testable implication of overconfidence and discuss some applications and policy issues. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:red:issued:v:7:y:2004:i:1:p:198-218
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25