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Restricted increases in risk aversion and their application

Author

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  • Louis Eeckhoudt

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Liqun Liu
  • Jack Meyer

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, 2016. "Restricted increases in risk aversion and their application," Post-Print hal-01533535, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01533535
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-016-0978-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Aurélien Baillon & Olivier L’Haridon, 2021. "Discrete Arrow–Pratt indexes for risk and uncertainty," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 72(4), pages 1375-1393, November.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Octave Jokung & Sovan Mitra, 2019. "Asset Prices and Changes in Risk within a Bivariate Model," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 26(1), pages 47-60, March.
    6. 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.
    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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