Variation in Risk Seeking Behavior in a Natural Experiment on Large Losses Induced by a Natural Disaster
18 Pages Posted: 19 Jul 2012
There are 2 versions of this paper
Variation in Risk Seeking Behavior in a Natural Experiment on Large Losses Induced by a Natural Disaster
Date Written: July 18, 2012
Abstract
This study explores people’s risk attitudes after having suffered large real-world losses following a natural disaster. Using the margins of the 2011 Australian floods (Brisbane) as a natural experimental setting, we find that homeowners who were victims of the floods and face large losses in property values are 50% more likely to opt for a risky gamble – a scratch card giving a small chance of a large gain ($500,000) - than for a sure amount of comparable value ($10). This finding is consistent with prospect theory predictions of the adoption of a risk-seeking attitude after a loss.
Keywords: decision under risk, large losses, natural experiment
JEL Classification: D030, D810, C930
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation