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Dual Decision Processes: Retrieving Preferences When Some Choices Are Automatic

Author

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  • Francesco Cerigioni

Abstract

Evidence from the cognitive sciences suggests that some choices are conscious and reflect individual volition, while others tend to be automatic. Under these circumstances, standard economic modeling might not always be applicable because not all choices are the result of individual tastes. We propose a behavioral model that can be used in standard economic analysis that formalizes the way in which conscious and automatic choices arise. We then present a novel method capable of identifying a set of conscious choices from observed behavior and discuss its usefulness as a framework for studying asymmetric pricing and empirical puzzles in different settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Cerigioni, 2021. "Dual Decision Processes: Retrieving Preferences When Some Choices Are Automatic," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(6), pages 1667-1704.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/713730
    DOI: 10.1086/713730
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    Cited by:

    1. Todd Guilfoos & Andreas Duus Pape, 2020. "Estimating Case-Based Learning," Games, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, September.
    2. Francesco Cerigioni, 2016. "Dual decision processes and noise trading," Economics Working Papers 1553, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    3. João V. Ferreira & Nicolas Gravel, 2017. "Choice with Time," AMSE Working Papers 1729, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France.
    4. Cheng, Ing-Haw & Hsiaw, Alice, 2022. "Distrust in experts and the origins of disagreement," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    5. Guy Barokas, 2021. "Dynamic choice under familiarity-based attention," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 57(4), pages 703-720, November.
    6. João V. Ferreira & Nicolas Gravel, 2025. "Revealing preference discovery: a chronological choice framework," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 98(1), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Christian Belzil & Tomáš Jagelka, 2024. "Separating Preferences from Endogenous Effort and Cognitive Noise in Observed Decisions," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 350, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    8. Guy Barokas & Burak Ünveren, 2022. "Impressionable Rational Choice: Revealed-Preference Theory with Framing Effects," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(23), pages 1-19, November.
    9. D. Pennesi, 2016. "Deciding fast and slow," Working Papers wp1082, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    10. Angelo Enrico Petralia, 2026. "A multi-self model of self-punishment," Papers 2601.01421, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2026.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General

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