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Regret theory and risk attitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Jeeva Somasundaram

    (INSEAD)

  • Enrico Diecidue

    (INSEAD)

Abstract

We examine risk attitudes under regret theory and derive analytical expressions for two components—the resolution and regret premiums—of the risk premium under regret theory. We posit that regret-averse decision makers are risk seeking (resp., risk averse) for low (resp., high) probabilities of gains and that feedback concerning the foregone option reinforces risk attitudes. We test these hypotheses experimentally and estimate empirically both the resolution premium and the regret premium. Our results confirm the predominance of regret aversion but not the risk attitudes predicted by regret theory; they also clarify how feedback affects attitudes toward both risk and regret.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeeva Somasundaram & Enrico Diecidue, 2017. "Regret theory and risk attitudes," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 147-175, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:55:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11166-017-9268-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11166-017-9268-9
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    2. Christian Gollier, 2020. "Aversion to risk of regret and preference for positively skewed risks," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 70(4), pages 913-941, November.
    3. Emmanuelle GABILLON, 2020. "When choosing is painful: anticipated regret and psychological opportunity cost," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2020-04, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    4. Jiakun Zheng, 2021. "Willingness to pay for reductions in health risks under anticipated regret," Post-Print hal-04227414, HAL.
    5. Barbara Alemanni & Pierpaolo Uberti, 2019. "What Are Investors Afraid of? Finding the Big Bad Wolf," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Zheng, Jiakun, 2021. "Willingness to pay for reductions in health risks under anticipated regret," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Brice Corgnet & Roberto Hernán González, 2023. "You Will not Regret it: On the Practice of Randomized Incentives," Working Papers 2314, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    8. Andersson, Henrik & Scholtz, Henrik & Zheng, Jiakun, 2023. "Measuring regret theory in the health and financial domain," TSE Working Papers 23-1449, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    9. Ang, Dionysius & Diecidue, Enrico & Dewitte, Siegfried, 2022. "To deliberate or not? The effects of anticipated regret and deliberation on willingness-to-pay," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 563-578.
    10. Gabillon, Emmanuelle, 2020. "When choosing is painful: Anticipated regret and psychological opportunity cost," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 644-659.
    11. Fujii, Yoichiro & Okura, Mahito & Osaki, Yusuke, 2021. "Is insurance normal or inferior? -A regret theoretical approach-," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    12. Korn, Olaf & Rieger, Marc Oliver, 2019. "Hedging with regret," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 192-205.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regret theory; Resolution premium; Regret premium; Regret aversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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