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Identifying Rule-Based Rationality

Author

Listed:
  • Yoram Halevy

    (University of Toronto and Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Guy Mayraz

    (University of Sydney)

Abstract

The revealed preference methodology allows an observer to infer preferences from choices. This paper extends this fundamental idea by experimentally identifying the preference for basing choices on simple decision rules. Subjects not only make case-by-case portfolio allocations but also design a simple investment rule for selecting portfolios. They then choose between these two decision modes for an additional set of problems. The majority opt for the rule interface and in most cases choose a simple investment rule that cannot be rationalized by any simple utility function or accounted for by reductions in decision time or by cognitive costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoram Halevy & Guy Mayraz, 2024. "Identifying Rule-Based Rationality," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(5), pages 1369-1380, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:5:p:1369-1380
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01232
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. de Castro, Luciano & Galvao, Antonio F. & Noussair, Charles N. & Qiao, Liang, 2022. "Do people maximize quantiles?," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 22-40.
    2. Mingshi Chen & Tracy Xiao Liu & You Shan & Shu Wang & Songfa Zhong & Yanju Zhou, 2025. "How General Are Measures of Choice Consistency? Evidence from Experimental and Scanner Data," Papers 2505.05275, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.
    3. Avner Seror, 2026. "How Many Mechanisms? Measuring Parsimony in Risky Choice," Papers 2601.02964, arXiv.org, revised May 2026.
    4. Avner Seror, 2026. "A Random Rule Model," Papers 2603.04105, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2026.
    5. Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt & Mats Köster, 2025. "Salient Cues and Complexity," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 71(1), pages 428-469, January.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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