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Coping Rationally with Unpreferred Preferences

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Author Info
David George (La Salle University)
Abstract

In this paper the "two-selves" models of self-imposed constraints are shown to carry normative implications only when the present-self acts to restrict the freedom of a future-self whose ability to act rationally has been clearly compromised. Conversely, when this future-self, if unrestrained, would act in a way which by any account would have to be called "rational," the normative power of this model is severely compromised. Metapreferences are demonstrated as an approach to such internal conflict that has the advantage of overcoming this normative incoherence. The act of ruling out certain future choices is shown to leave the agent better off if such a prohibition succeeds in altering the agent's preferences in a way that the agent prefers.

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File URL: http://college.holycross.edu/eej/Volume24/V24N2P181_194.pdf
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Publisher Info
Article provided by Eastern Economic Association in its journal Eastern Economic Journal.

Volume (Year): 24 (1998)
Issue (Month): 2 (Spring)
Pages: 181-194
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Handle: RePEc:eej:eeconj:v:24:y:1998:i:2:p:181-194

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Related research
Keywords: Preference;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Robert S. Goldfarb & Thomas C. Leonard & Steven M. Suranovic, 2005. "Modeling Alternative Motives for Dieting," HEW 0511001, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Martha Starr, 2006. "Growth and conflict in the developing world: Neo-liberal narratives and social-economy alternatives," Review of Social Economy, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 64(2), pages 205-224, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Elodie Brahic & Valérie Clément & Nathalie Moureau & Marion Vidal, 2008. "A la recherche des Merit Goods," Working Papers 08-08, LAMETA, Universtiy of Montpellier, revised Jun 2008. [Downloadable!]
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