Reference Dependence and Loss Aversion in Probabilities: Theory and Experiment of Ambiguity Attitudes

24 Pages Posted: 15 Dec 2011 Last revised: 4 Mar 2013

See all articles by Jianying Qiu

Jianying Qiu

Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for Economics

Utz Weitzel

VU University Amsterdam

Date Written: January 23, 2012

Abstract

In standard models of ambiguity, the evaluation of an ambiguous asset, as of a risky asset, is considered as an independent process. In this process only information directly pertaining to the ambiguous asset is used. These models face signi ficant challenges from the finding that ambiguity aversion is more pronounced when an ambiguous asset is evaluated alongside a risky asset than in isolation. To explain this phenomenon, we developed a theoretical model based on reference dependence in probabilities. According to this model, individuals form subjective beliefs on the potential winning probability of the ambiguous asset; use the winning probability of the (simultaneously presented) risky asset as a reference point to evaluate the potential winning probabilities of the ambiguous asset; code potential winning probabilities of the ambiguous asset that are greater than the reference point as gains and those that are smaller than the reference point as losses; weight losses in probability heavier than gains in probability. We tested the crucial assumption, reference dependence in probabilities, in an experiment and found supporting evidence.

Keywords: Ambiguity Aversion, Reference Point, Comparison, Experiment

JEL Classification: C91, D03, D81

Suggested Citation

Qiu, Jianying and Weitzel, Utz, Reference Dependence and Loss Aversion in Probabilities: Theory and Experiment of Ambiguity Attitudes (January 23, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1972293 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1972293

Jianying Qiu

Max Planck Society for the Advancement of the Sciences - Max Planck Institute for Economics ( email )

Kahlaische Strasse 10
D-07745 Jena, 07745
Germany

Utz Weitzel (Contact Author)

VU University Amsterdam ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam
Netherlands

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