IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jjieco/v52y2019icp78-89.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Verifying reference-dependent utility and loss aversion with Fukushima nuclear-disaster natural experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Iwasaki, Keiko
  • Lee, Myoung-jae
  • Sawada, Yasuyuki

Abstract

We verify prospect theory with natural experimental data by adopting regression kink design. Our data were collected in 2013 and 2014 from residents displaced by the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in 2011. We examine how a sudden gain/loss affects stress/utility in four dimensions/resources: family size, health, house size, and income. We find that (i) there is a higher sensitivity to losses from a reference point than to gains (i.e., loss aversion) in health, and possibly in income as well, (ii) the reference point may change over time, and (iii) value function is not separable in the four dimensions/resources. These findings have a few implications. First, in view of the loss aversion, a sufficient—apparently more than enough—compensation should be provided to those who lost so that they can regain the original utility. Second, if the reference point is lowered, the victims must be over-compensated for their loss to recover the original utility. Third, separable value functions should be used with caution.

Suggested Citation

  • Iwasaki, Keiko & Lee, Myoung-jae & Sawada, Yasuyuki, 2019. "Verifying reference-dependent utility and loss aversion with Fukushima nuclear-disaster natural experiment," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 78-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:52:y:2019:i:c:p:78-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2019.04.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889158319300139
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jjie.2019.04.002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gu, Tao & Nakagawa, Masayuki & Saito, Makoto & Yamaga, Hisaki, 2021. "Estimation of nonlinear functions using coarsely discrete measures in panel data: The relationship between land prices and earthquake risk in the Tokyo Metropolitan District," Discussion Paper Series 729, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:52:y:2019:i:c:p:78-89. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/622903 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.