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On the Relationship between Cognitive Ability and Risk Preference

Author

Listed:
  • Dohmen, Thomas
  • Falk, Armin
  • Huffman, David
  • Sunde, Uwe

Abstract

This paper will focus on the relationship between cognitive ability and decision-making under risk and uncertainty. Taken as a whole, this research indicates that cognitive ability is associated with risk-taking behavior in various contexts and life domains, including incentivized choices between lotteries in controlled environments, behavior in nonexperimental settings, and self-reported tendency to take risks. One pattern that emerges frequently in these studies is that cognitive ability tends to be positively correlated with avoidance of harmful risky situations, but it tends to be negatively correlated with risk aversion in advantageous situations. We conclude by discussing perspectives for future research, in particular the scope for the development of richer sets of elicitation instruments and measurement across a wider range of concepts.
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Suggested Citation

  • Dohmen, Thomas & Falk, Armin & Huffman, David & Sunde, Uwe, 2018. "On the Relationship between Cognitive Ability and Risk Preference," Munich Reprints in Economics 62830, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:62830
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies

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