Intrinsic Information Preferences and Skewness
37 Pages Posted: 15 Aug 2018 Last revised: 4 May 2023
Date Written: May 4, 2023
Abstract
We present experimental results from a broad investigation of intrinsic preferences for information. We examine whether people prefer negatively skewed or positively skewed information structures, and how individual preferences over the skewness and the degree of information relate to one another. The results reveal new insights regarding intrinsic preferences for information, including the possibility that positively skewed information structures may ameliorate information avoidance arising from a desire to preserve hope. We discuss our findings through the lens of existing theories.
JEL Classification: D80
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation