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The value of information in monotone decision problems

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  • Athey, Susan
  • Levin, Jonathan

Abstract

We study the information preferences and information demand of decision-makers facing uncertainty. We focus on monotone decision problems in which the posterior beliefs induced by the decision-maker’s information can be ordered so that higher actions are chosen in response to higher signal realizations. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for decision makers with different classes of payoff functions to prefer one information structure to another. We also provide conditions under which two decision-makers in a given class can be ranked in terms of their information demand. Applications and examples are given.

Suggested Citation

  • Athey, Susan & Levin, Jonathan, 2018. "The value of information in monotone decision problems," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(1), pages 101-116.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reecon:v:72:y:2018:i:1:p:101-116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rie.2017.01.001
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