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Income and choice under risk

Author

Listed:
  • Arnt O. Hopland

    (Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Egil Matsen

    (Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Bjarne Strøm

    (Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between income and risky choice in a field ex- periment where stakes are of first-orderimportance to the subjects' living standards. We combine observations of stopping decisions in a Norwegian game show with reliable data on each subject's income. Participants in the experiment are randomly drawn from a large subject pool that is representative of the Norwegian population. Our re- sults clearly indicate that people are risk-averse in making large-stake choices and that decision makers with high income are more willing to accept nancial risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnt O. Hopland & Egil Matsen & Bjarne Strøm, 2013. "Income and choice under risk," Working Paper Series 14313, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
    • Handle: RePEc:nst:samfok:14313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Pham, Huong Dien, 2017. "Do cultural factors alter the relationship between risk attitudes and economic welfare?," TVSEP Working Papers wp-003, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Institute of Development and Agricultural Economics, Project TVSEP.
    3. Marie Lautrup & Lasse Læbo Matthiesen & Jette Bredahl Jacobsen & Toke Emil Panduro, 2023. "Welfare Effects and the Immaterial Costs of Coastal Flooding," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 85(2), pages 415-441, June.
    4. Thomas Meissner & Xavier Gassmann & Corinne Faure & Joachim Schleich, 2023. "Individual characteristics associated with risk and time preferences: A multi country representative survey," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 77-107, February.
    5. Raymond Boadi Frempong & David Stadelmann, 2021. "Risk preference and child labor: Econometric evidence," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 878-894, May.
    6. Arnaud Reynaud & Cécile Aubert, 2020. "Does flood experience modify risk preferences? Evidence from an artefactual field experiment in Vietnam," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 45(1), pages 36-74, March.
    7. Wright, Joshua, 2017. "To what extent does income predict an individual’s risk profile in the UK (2012- 2014)," MPRA Paper 80757, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Ferdinand M. Vieider & Peter Martinsson & Pham Khanh Nam & Nghi Truong, 2019. "Risk preferences and development revisited," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Ranoua Bouchouicha & Ferdinand M. Vieider, 2019. "Growth, entrepreneurship, and risk-tolerance: a risk-income paradox," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 257-282, September.
    10. Fang, Guanfu & Li, Wei & Zhu, Ying, 2022. "The shadow of the epidemic: Long-term impacts of meningitis exposure on risk preference and behaviors," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    11. Vieider, Ferdinand M. & Truong, Nghi & Martinsson, Peter & Pham Khanh Nam & Martinsson, Peter, 2013. "Risk preferences and development revisited: A field experiment in Vietnam," Discussion Papers, WZB Junior Research Group Risk and Development SP II 2013-403, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risky choice; Field experiment;

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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