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Are People Maximizing an Incomplete Preference?

Author

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  • Daniel O. Cajueiro
  • Mauricio Ribeiro

Abstract

We study how to test whether choices are compatible with maximizing an incomplete preference when we cannot choose the menus from which to observe choices, both theoretically and empirically. Theoretically, we contrast the testable restrictions of the complete and incomplete preference maximization models, showing that once we drop completeness, testing for compatibility becomes computationally hard and may even require an infinite dataset. Empirically, we propose a toolkit to test for compatibility with maximizing an incomplete preference, addressing cases where the analyst might only observe some of the choices a person would make from a menu. We apply this toolkit to compare the performance of the complete and incomplete preference maximization models in three existing choice experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel O. Cajueiro & Mauricio Ribeiro, 2025. "Are People Maximizing an Incomplete Preference?," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 25/806, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    • Handle: RePEc:bri:uobdis:25/806
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elias Bouacida, 2021. "Identifying Choice Correspondences," Working Papers 327800275, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    2. Thomas Demuynck, 2014. "The computational complexity of rationalizing Pareto optimal choice behavior," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 42(3), pages 529-549, March.
    3. Efe A. Ok & Pietro Ortoleva & Gil Riella, 2012. "Incomplete Preferences Under Uncertainty: Indecisiveness in Beliefs versus Tastes," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(4), pages 1791-1808, July.
    4. Georgios Gerasimou, 2021. "Eliciting and Distinguishing Between Weak and Incomplete Preferences: Theory, Experiment and Computation," Papers 2111.14431, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.
    5. Mauricio Ribeiro & Gil Riella, 2017. "Regular preorders and behavioral indifference," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 82(1), pages 1-12, January.
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