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Bounded-Rationality Models: Tasks to Become Intellectually Competitive

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  • Ronald M. Harstad
  • Reinhard Selten

Abstract

Research in experimental economics has cogently challenged the fundamental precept of neoclassical economics that economic agents optimize. The last two decades have seen elaboration of boundedly rational models that try to move away from the optimization approach, in ways consistent with experimental findings. Nonetheless, the collection of alternative models has made little headway supplanting the dominant paradigm. We delineate key ways in which neoclassical microeconomics holds continuing and compelling advantages over bounded-rationality models, and suggest, via a few examples, the sorts of further, difficult pushes that would be needed to redress this state of affairs. Closer collaboration between theoretic modeling and experiments is clearly seen to be necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald M. Harstad & Reinhard Selten, 2013. "Bounded-Rationality Models: Tasks to Become Intellectually Competitive," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 51(2), pages 496-511, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:jeclit:v:51:y:2013:i:2:p:496-511
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.51.2.496
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory

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