This experiment explores whether individuals know that other people are biased. We confirm that overestimation of abilities is a pervasive problem, but observe that most people are not aware of it, i.e. they think others are unbiased. We investigate several explanations for this result. As a first one, we discuss a possible unfamiliarity with the task and the subjects' inability to distinguish between random mistakes and a real bias. Second, we show how the relation between a subject's belief about others and his belief about himself might be driven by a false consensus effect or self-correction mechanism. Third, we identify a self-serving bias when comparing how a subject evaluates his own and other people's biases.
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Paper provided by University of Bonn, Germany in its series Bonn Econ Discussion Papers with number
bgse11_2007.
Length: 28 Date of creation: Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:bon:bonedp:bgse11_2007
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References listed on IDEAS 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.:
Jürgen Eichberger & David Kelsey & Burkhard C. Schipper, 2005.
"Ambiguity and Social Interaction,"
Discussion Papers
59, SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
[Downloadable!]
Jürgen Eichberger & David Kelsey & Burkhard C. Schipper, 2007.
"Ambiguity and Social Interaction,"
Working Papers
0443, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics, revised May 2007.
[Downloadable!]
Ted O'Donoghue & Matthew Rabin, 1999.
"Doing It Now or Later,"
American Economic Review,
American Economic Association, vol. 89(1), pages 103-124, March.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
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