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Regret aversion and information aversion

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  • Emmanuelle GABILLON

Abstract

Regret is a negative and counterfactual emotion that occurs when a decision maker believes her past decision, if changed, would achieve a better outcome. Regret is intrinsically related to the comparison of the chosen alternative outcome with the foregone alternative outcomes. The result of this comparison is influenced by the decision maker’s information about the foregone alternative outcomes (feedback structure). In this paper, we use Gabillon (2020)’s model, which generalizes regret theory to any feedback structure. We show that a regretful decision maker exhibits information aversion. The anticipation of learning about the payoffs of the foregone alternatives decreases her expected utility. We use the concept of statistical sufficiency in order to classify the feedback structures according to their informational content. We show that the less informative the feedback structure is, the higher the utility of a regretful decision maker. Regret, Emotion, Information

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuelle GABILLON, 2022. "Regret aversion and information aversion," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2022-12, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    • Handle: RePEc:grt:bdxewp:2022-12
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fishburn, Peter C., 1989. "Non-transitive measurable utility for decision under uncertainty," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 187-207, April.
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    8. Gabillon, Emmanuelle, 2020. "When choosing is painful: Anticipated regret and psychological opportunity cost," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 644-659.
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    13. David E. Bell, 1982. "Regret in Decision Making under Uncertainty," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(5), pages 961-981, October.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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