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Stake effects on ambiguity attitudes for gains and losses

Author

Listed:
  • Ranoua Bouchouicha

    (University of Reading)

  • Peter Martinsson

    (University of Gothenburg
    Linköping University)

  • Haileselassie Medhin

    (University of Gothenburg
    Ethiopian Development Research Institute)

  • Ferdinand M. Vieider

    (University of Reading
    WZB Berlin Social Science Center)

Abstract

We test the effect of stake size on ambiguity attitudes. Compared to a baseline condition, we find subjects to be more ambiguity seeking for small-probability gains and large-probability losses under high stakes. They are also more ambiguity averse for large-probability gains and small-probability losses. We trace these effects back to stake effects on decisions under risk (known probabilities) and uncertainty (unknown probabilities). For risk, we replicate previous findings. For uncertainty, we find an increase in probabilistic insensitivity under high stakes that is driven by increased uncertainty aversion for large-probability gains and for small-probability losses.

Suggested Citation

  • Ranoua Bouchouicha & Peter Martinsson & Haileselassie Medhin & Ferdinand M. Vieider, 2017. "Stake effects on ambiguity attitudes for gains and losses," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 83(1), pages 19-35, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:theord:v:83:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11238-016-9585-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11238-016-9585-5
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    Cited by:

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    3. Emmanuel Kemel & Corina Paraschiv, 2023. "Risking the future? Measuring risk attitudes towards delayed consequences," Post-Print hal-04385738, HAL.
    4. Martin G. Kocher & Amrei M. Lahno & Stefan T. Trautmann, 2015. "Ambiguity Aversion is the Exception," CESifo Working Paper Series 5261, CESifo.
    5. Ranoua Bouchouicha & Ferdinand M. Vieider, 2017. "Accommodating stake effects under prospect theory," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 1-28, August.
    6. Emmanuel Kemel & Corina Paraschiv, 2021. "Risking the Future? Measuring Risk Attitudes towards Delayed Consequences," Working Papers hal-03330096, HAL.
    7. Kocher, Martin G. & Lahno, Amrei Marie & Trautmann, Stefan T., 2015. "Ambiguity aversion is the exception," Discussion Papers in Economics 23817, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    8. Kocher, Martin G. & Lahno, Amrei Marie & Trautmann, Stefan T., 2018. "Ambiguity aversion is not universal," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 268-283.
    9. Milos Borozan & Loreta Cannito & Barbara Luppi, 2022. "A tale of two ambiguities: A conceptual overview of findings from economics and psychology," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 6(S1), pages 11-21, July.
    10. Voorhoeve, Alex & Binmore, Ken G & Stefansson, Arnaldur & Stewart, Lisa, 2016. "Ambiguity attitudes, framing, and consistency," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 65577, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Stephen Dimmock & Roy Kouwenberg & Olivia Mitchell & Kim Peijnenburg, 2015. "Estimating ambiguity preferences and perceptions in multiple prior models: Evidence from the field," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 219-244, December.
    12. Xu, Yilong & Xu, Xiaogeng & Tucker, Steven, 2018. "Ambiguity attitudes in the loss domain: Decisions for self versus others," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 100-103.
    13. Cédric Gutierrez & Emmanuel Kemel, 2021. "Measuring natural source dependence," Working Papers hal-03330409, HAL.
    14. Li, Zheng & Hensher, David A. & Zeng, Jingjing, 2022. "Travel choice behaviour under uncertainty in real-market settings: A source-dependent utility approach," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    15. Aggarwal, Divya & Damodaran, Uday, 2020. "Ambiguity attitudes and myopic loss aversion: Experimental evidence using carnival games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    16. Divya Aggarwal & Pitabas Mohanty, 2022. "Influence of imprecise information on risk and ambiguity preferences: Experimental evidence," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(4), pages 1025-1038, June.

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