Joint measurement of risk aversion, prudence, and temperance
Ebert,S. Wiesen,D.
Ebert,S.
Wiesen,D.
Abstract
Risk aversion—but also the higher-order risk preferences of prudence and temperance—are fundamental concepts in the study of economic decision making. We propose a method to jointly measure the intensity of risk aversion, prudence, and temperance. Our theoretical approach is to define risk compensations of different orders, and in an experiment we elicit these compensations with a price list technique. We find evidence for risk aversion, prudence, and temperance. These traits correlate within subjects. The compensations elicited for prudence are significantly larger than those for risk aversion and temperance. In contrast to commonly used utility functions, prospect theory can predict this behavioral pattern. In our experiment, risk-averse, risk-loving, and risk-neutral subjects are prudent. This supports a recent theoretical observation that prudence may be a more universal trait than previously realized.
Description
Date
2014-06
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
decision making under risk, experiment, prospect theory, prudence, risk aversion, risk-loving, temperance, C91 - Laboratory, Individual Behavior, D81 - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
Citation
Ebert, S & Wiesen, D 2014, 'Joint measurement of risk aversion, prudence, and temperance', Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 231-252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11166-014-9193-0