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Savage for dummies and experts

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  • Abdellaoui, Mohammed
  • Wakker, Peter P.

Abstract

Savage's foundation of expected utility is considered to be the most convincing justification of Bayesian expected utility and the crowning glory of decision theory. It combines exceptionally appealing axioms with deep mathematics. Despite the wide influence and deep respect that Savage received in economics and statistics, virtually no one touched his mathematical tools. We provide an updated analysis that is more general and more accessible. Our derivations are self-contained. This helps to better appreciate the depth and beauty of Savage's work and the foundations of Bayesianism, to teach it more easily, and to develop non-Bayesian generalizations incorporating ambiguity more efficiently.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdellaoui, Mohammed & Wakker, Peter P., 2020. "Savage for dummies and experts," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:186:y:2020:i:c:s0022053120300016
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2020.104991
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. M. Ali Khan & Metin Uyanik, 2021. "The Yannelis–Prabhakar theorem on upper semi-continuous selections in paracompact spaces: extensions and applications," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(3), pages 799-840, April.
    2. Charles-Cadogan, G., 2021. "Utility Representation in Abstract Wiener Space," CRETA Online Discussion Paper Series 70, Centre for Research in Economic Theory and its Applications CRETA.
    3. Uyanik, Metin & Khan, M. Ali, 2022. "The continuity postulate in economic theory: A deconstruction and an integration," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Grace C. Liu & Willem Spanjers, 2023. "Modeling Uncertainties and Gender Differences in Entrepreneurial Decision Making," Working Paper series 23-15, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    5. Aniruddha Ghosh & Mohammed Ali Khan & Metin Uyanik, 2022. "The Intermediate Value Theorem and Decision-Making in Psychology and Economics: An Expositional Consolidation," Games, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, July.
    6. Borie, Dino, 2023. "Maxmin expected utility in Savage's framework," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subjective expected utility; Behavioral foundation; Mixture spaces; Foundations of statistics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C02 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Mathematical Economics
    • C60 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - General

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