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Related papers: Recovering Preferences from Finite Data

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Many economic theory models incorporate finiteness assumptions that, while introduced for simplicity, play a real role in the analysis. We provide a principled framework for scaling results from such models by removing these finiteness…

Computer Science and Game Theory · Computer Science 2023-04-11 Yannai A. Gonczarowski , Scott Duke Kominers , Ran I. Shorrer

We bound features of counterfactual choices in the nonparametric random utility model of demand, i.e. if observable choices are repeated cross-sections and one allows for unrestricted, unobserved heterogeneity. In this setting, tight bounds…

Econometrics · Economics 2019-05-21 Yuichi Kitamura , Jörg Stoye

We implement nonparametric revealed-preference tests of subjective expected utility theory and its generalizations. We find that a majority of subjects' choices are consistent with the maximization of some utility function. They respond to…

General Economics · Economics 2021-05-04 Federico Echenique , Taisuke Imai , Kota Saito

In this paper, we present a link between preference-based and multiobjective sequential decision-making. While transforming a multiobjective problem to a preference-based one is quite natural, the other direction is a bit less obvious. We…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2017-01-04 Paul Weng

Determining consumer preferences and utility is a foundational challenge in economics. They are central in determining consumer behaviour through the utility-maximising consumer decision-making process. However, preferences and utilities…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2025-03-18 Marta Grzeskiewicz

The outcomes of elections, product sales, and the structure of social connections are all determined by the choices individuals make when presented with a set of options, so understanding the factors that contribute to choice is crucial. Of…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2020-11-09 Kiran Tomlinson , Austin R. Benson

Can large language models (LLMs) learn a decision maker's preferences from observed choices and generate preference-consistent recommendations in new situations? We propose a portable Simulate-Recommend-Evaluate framework that tests…

General Economics · Economics 2026-04-08 Jeongbin Kim , Matthew Kovach , Kyu-Min Lee , Euncheol Shin , Hector Tzavellas

Given only aggregate choice data and limited information about how menus are distributed across the population, we describe what can be inferred robustly about the distribution of preferences (or more general decision rules). We strengthen…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2024-05-16 Larry G Epstein , Kaushil Patel

Humans use social context to specify preferences over behaviors, i.e. their reward functions. Yet, algorithms for inferring reward models from preference data do not take this social learning view into account. Inspired by pragmatic human…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2024-05-24 Andi Peng , Yuying Sun , Tianmin Shu , David Abel

We study how to infer new choices from prior choices using the framework of choice functions, a unifying mathematical framework for decision-making based on sets of preference orders. In particular, we define the natural (most conservative)…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2024-12-02 Arne Decadt , Alexander Erreygers , Jasper De Bock

We consider sequential decision problems in which we adaptively choose one of finitely many alternatives and observe a stochastic reward. We offer a new perspective of interpreting Bayesian ranking and selection problems as adaptive…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2016-06-16 Yingfei Wang , Warren Powell

We propose a new online learning model for learning with preference feedback. The model is especially suited for applications like web search and recommender systems, where preference data is readily available from implicit user feedback…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2011-11-04 Pannagadatta K. Shivaswamy , Thorsten Joachims

This paper uncovers tight bounds on the number of preferences permissible in identified random utility models. We show that as the number of alternatives in a discrete choice model becomes large, the fraction of preferences admissible in an…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2024-12-03 Christopher P. Chambers , Christopher Turansick

Choice modeling is at the core of understanding how changes to the competitive landscape affect consumer choices and reshape market equilibria. In this paper, we propose a fundamental characterization of choice functions that encompasses a…

Econometrics · Economics 2024-02-21 Amandeep Singh , Ye Liu , Hema Yoganarasimhan

A central push in operations models over the last decade has been the incorporation of models of customer choice. Real world implementations of many of these models face the formidable stumbling block of simply identifying the `right' model…

Applications · Statistics 2011-06-23 Vivek F. Farias , Srikanth Jagabathula , Devavrat Shah

We characterize those ex-ante restrictions on the random utility model which lead to identification. We first identify a simple class of perturbations which transfer mass from a suitable pair of preferences to the pair formed by swapping…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2024-08-14 Peter P. Caradonna , Christopher Turansick

This study proposes a tractable stochastic choice model to identify motivations for prosocial behavior, and to explore alternative motivations of deliberate randomization beyond ex-ante fairness concerns. To represent social preferences, we…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2023-05-01 Yosuke Hashidate , Keisuke Yoshihara

Learning user preferences for products based on their past purchases or reviews is at the cornerstone of modern recommendation engines. One complication in this learning task is that some users are more likely to purchase products or review…

Information Retrieval · Computer Science 2023-03-08 Wanning Chen , Mohsen Bayati

By embedding uncertainty into time, we obtain a conjoint axiomatic characterization of both Exponential Discounting and Subjective Expected Utility that accommodates arbitrary state and outcome spaces. In doing so, we provide a novel and…

Theoretical Economics · Economics 2024-03-25 Lorenzo Bastianello , Vassili Vergopoulos

Many biological, psychological and economic experiments have been designed where an organism or individual must choose between two options that have the same expected reward but differ in the variance of reward received. In this way,…

Quantitative Methods · Quantitative Biology 2018-09-20 Jared M. Field , Michael B. Bonsall