Title
The Thrill of Gradual Learning
Author(s)
Faruk R. Gul Faruk Gul (Princeton University)
Paulo Natenzon Paulo Natenzon (Washington University in St. Louis)
Erkut Y. Ozbay Erkut Ozbay (University of Maryland)
Wolfgang Pesendorfer Wolfgang Pesendorfer (Princeton University)
Abstract
We report on an experiment that shows subjects prefer a gradual resolution of uncertainty when information about winning yields decisive bad news but inconclusive good news. This behavior is difficult to reconcile with existing theories of choice under uncertainty, including the Kreps-Porteus model. We show how the behavioral patterns uncovered by our experiment can be understood as arising from subjects’ special emphasis on their best (peak) and worst (trough) experiences along the realized path of uncertainty.
Creation Date
2020-10
Section URL ID
Paper Number
2020-8
URL
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d43ujjje0rffrp1/rrexperiment.pdf?dl=0
File Function
Jel
D80, D81
Keyword(s)
uncertainty
Suppress
false
Series
13