English

Twofold Multiprior Preferences and Failures of Contingent Reasoning

Theoretical Economics 2022-01-14 v3

Abstract

We propose a model of incomplete \textit{twofold multiprior preferences}, in which an act ff is ranked above an act gg only when ff provides higher utility in a worst-case scenario than what gg provides in a best-case scenario. The model explains failures of contingent reasoning, captured through a weakening of the state-by-state monotonicity (or dominance) axiom. Our model gives rise to rich comparative statics results, as well as extension exercises, and connections to choice theory. We present an application to second-price auctions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2012.14557,
  title  = {Twofold Multiprior Preferences and Failures of Contingent Reasoning},
  author = {Federico Echenique and Masaki Miyashita and Yuta Nakamura and Luciano Pomatto and Jamie Vinson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2012.14557},
  year   = {2022}
}