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Learning By Doing In An Ambiguous Environment

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Author Info
Jim Engle-Warnick ()
Sonia Laszlo Author Email: sonia.laszlo@mcgill.ca

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Abstract

We experimentally test whether risk aversion or ambiguity aversion can explain decisions in a learning by doing game. We first measure subjects' preferences toward risk and ambiguity, and then use these measures to predict behavior in the game. We find that ambiguity averse subjects pay more often to resolve ambiguity in the game. We also find that less risk averse subjects earn more in the game. Our results, in light of a previous field study of rural farmers in a developing economy, suggest a link between ambiguity aversion and technology choice, as well as a link between risk aversion and farm profitability.

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File URL: http://www.mcgill.ca/files/economics/learningbydoing.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by McGill University, Department of Economics in its series Departmental Working Papers with number 2006-29.

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Length: 35 pages
Date of creation: May 2006
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:mcl:mclwop:2006-29

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General

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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. Hans P. Binswanger, 1980. "Attitudes Toward Risk: Experimental Measurement in Rural India," Artefactual Field Experiments 0008, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
  2. Jim Engle-Warnick & Javier Escobal & Sonia Laszlo, 2007. "Ambiguity Aversion as a Predictor of Technology Choice: Experimental Evidence from Peru," CIRANO Working Papers 2007s-01, CIRANO. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Jovanovic, B. & Nyarko, Y., 1996. "Learning by Doing and the Choice of Technology," Working Papers 96-25, C.V. Starr Center for Applied Economics, New York University. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Merlo, Antonio & Schotter, Andrew, 2003. "Learning by not doing: an experimental investigation of observational learning," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 116-136, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. Mark Rosenzweig & Andrew D. Foster, . "Learning by Doing and Learning from Others: Human Capital and Technical Change in Agriculture," Home Pages _068, University of Pennsylvania. [Downloadable!]
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  6. Catherine Eckel & Cathleen Johnson & Claude Montmarquette, 2004. "Saving Decisions of the Working Poor: Short-and Long-Term Horizons," CIRANO Working Papers 2004s-45, CIRANO. [Downloadable!]
  7. John H. Kagel & Alvin E. Roth, 2000. "The Dynamics Of Reorganization In Matching Markets: A Laboratory Experiment Motivated By A Natural Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 115(1), pages 201-235, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Charles A. Holt & Susan K. Laury, 2002. "Risk Aversion and Incentive Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(5), pages 1644-1655, December. [Downloadable!]
  9. Jim Engle-Warnick & Nurlan Turdaliev, 2006. "An Experimental Test of Taylor-Type Rules with Inexperienced Central Bankers," CIRANO Working Papers 2006s-05, CIRANO. [Downloadable!]
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  10. Jason Abrevaya, 2002. "Computing Marginal Effects In The Box-Cox Model," Econometric Reviews, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 383-393. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  11. John Knight & Sharada Weir & Tassew Woldehanna, 2003. "The role of education in facilitating risk-taking and innovation in agriculture," The Journal of Development Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 39(6), pages 1-22, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Feder, Gershon & Just, Richard E & Zilberman, David, 1985. "Adoption of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries: A Survey," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(2), pages 255-98, January.
  13. Urs Fischbacher, 2007. "z-Tree: Zurich toolbox for ready-made economic experiments," Experimental Economics, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 171-178, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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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. Jim Engle-Warnick & Javier Escobal & Sonia Laszlo, 2007. "Ambiguity Aversion As A Predictor Of Technology Choice: Experimental Evidence From Peru," Departmental Working Papers 2007-04, McGill University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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