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Ambiguity and the value of information revisited

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  • Diego C. Nocetti

    (Clarkson University, David D. Reh School of Business)

Abstract

We analyze the value that decision makers place on the acquisition of information that partially or completely resolves uncertainty over the correct distribution of outcomes. We distinguish two sources of ambiguity of a given message service: posterior uncertainty over the correct probability distribution and uncertainty over the message which will be received. Given this distinction, we present a model where attitudes towards the two sources of ambiguity are separated and we study how these attitudes affect the value of information. The analysis clarifies and integrates seemingly contradictory results obtained previously in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego C. Nocetti, 2018. "Ambiguity and the value of information revisited," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 43(1), pages 25-38, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:genrir:v:43:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1057_s10713-018-0025-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s10713-018-0025-z
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    6. David Alary & Christian Gollier & Nicolas Treich, 2013. "The Effect of Ambiguity Aversion on Insurance and Self‐protection," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 123(12), pages 1188-1202, December.
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    10. Russell Golman & David Hagmann & George Loewenstein, 2017. "Information Avoidance," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(1), pages 96-135, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stéphane Couture & Stéphane Lemarié & Sabrina Teyssier & Pascal Toquebeuf, 2024. "The value of information under ambiguity: a theoretical and experimental study on pest management in agriculture," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 19-47, February.
    2. Cary Deck & Sebastian Ebert & Andreas Richter, 2018. "Special issue in honor of Harris Schlesinger: New developments in the study of risk preferences," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance Theory, Springer;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 43(1), pages 1-4, May.
    3. Patrice Loisel & Marielle Brunette & Stéphane Couture, 2022. "Ambiguity, value of information and forest rotation decision under storm risk," Working Papers of BETA 2022-26, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    4. Francesco Cavazza & Francesco Galioto & Meri Raggi & Davide Viaggi, 2020. "Digital Irrigated Agriculture: Towards a Framework for Comprehensive Analysis of Decision Processes under Uncertainty," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Stefan Felder, 2022. "Decision thresholds with genetic testing," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(6), pages 1071-1078, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Value of information; Ambiguity; Ambiguity aversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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