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Restricted increases in risk aversion and their application

Author

Listed:
  • Louis Eeckhoudt

    (LEM
    CORE Universite Catholique de Louvain)

  • Liqun Liu

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Jack Meyer

    (Michigan State University)

Abstract

This paper proposes additional definitions of what it means for one decision maker to be more risk averse than another. These definitions build on the strongly more risk averse definition presented by Ross (Econometrica 49:621–663, 1981). Using examples from portfolio choice, self-protection and insurance demand, it is shown that these definitions of increased risk aversion facilitate clear-cut comparative statics analysis in decision models where traditional concepts of increased risk aversion are insufficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis Eeckhoudt & Liqun Liu & Jack Meyer, 2017. "Restricted increases in risk aversion and their application," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 64(1), pages 161-181, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecth:v:64:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s00199-016-0978-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-016-0978-z
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dennis W. Jansen & Liqun Liu, 2022. "Portfolio choice in the model of expected utility with a safety-first component," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 45(1), pages 187-207, June.
    3. Wang, Jianli & Wang, Hongxia & Yick, Ho Yin, 2019. "How do changes in risk and risk aversion affect self-protection with Selden/Kreps–Porteus preferences?," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-6.
    4. Lu Li & Richard Peter, 2021. "Should we do more when we know less? The effect of technology risk on optimal effort," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 88(3), pages 695-725, September.
    5. Liqun Liu & Jack Meyer & Andrew J. Rettenmaier & Thomas R. Saving, 2018. "Risk and risk aversion effects in contests with contingent payments," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 289-305, June.
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    7. Peter, Richard & Ying, Jie, 2020. "Do you trust your insurer? Ambiguity about contract nonperformance and optimal insurance demand," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 938-954.
    8. Wang, Hongxia & Wang, Jianli & Yin, Yick Ho, 2018. "Willingness to pay for stochastic improvements of future risk under different risk aversion," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 52-55.
    9. Kalwij, Adriaan, 2023. "Risk preferences, preventive behaviour, and the probability of a loss: Empirical evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Comparative risk aversion; Portfolio choice; Self-protection; Insurance demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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