De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum: An Experimental Investigation

Dasgupta, Utteeyo and Gangadharan, Lata and Maitra, Pushkar and Mani, Subha (2014): De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum: An Experimental Investigation.

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to examine stability in preferences using the Stigler- Becker state-dependent framework. Using a randomized intervention that changes the opportunity sets of individuals we construct a unique panel data from an artefactual field experiment and evaluate whether the change in the state space influences our selected indicators of preferences: risk, competitiveness, and confidence. We find that there is considerable heterogeneity of preferences across individuals at a point in time; risk and competitive preferences inter-temporally are consistent with state-dependent preferences, while measures of confidence seem to depend on past experiences.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Preference stability, State Contingent Preferences, Artefactual Field Experiment
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C9 - Design of Experiments; D - Microeconomics > D0 - General > D01 - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles; D - Microeconomics > D0 - General > D03 - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles

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