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Parametric representation of preferences

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  • Al-Najjar, Nabil I.
  • De Castro, Luciano

Abstract

A preference is invariant with respect to a set of transformations if the ranking of acts is unaffected by reshuffling the states under these transformations. For example, transformations may correspond to the set of finite permutations, or the shift in a dynamic choice model. Our main result is that any invariant preference must be parametric: there is a unique sufficient set of parameters such that the preference ranks acts according to their expected utility given the parameters. Parameters are characterized in terms of objective frequencies, and can thus be interpreted as objective probabilities. By contrast, uncertainty about parameters is subjective. The preferences for which the above results hold are only required to be reflexive, transitive, monotone, continuous, and mixture linear.

Suggested Citation

  • Al-Najjar, Nabil I. & De Castro, Luciano, 2014. "Parametric representation of preferences," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 642-667.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:150:y:2014:i:c:p:642-667
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2013.12.006
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    Cited by:

    1. Larry G Epstein & Yoram Halevy, 2019. "Ambiguous Correlation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 86(2), pages 668-693.
    2. Tommaso Denti & Luciano Pomatto, 2022. "Model and Predictive Uncertainty: A Foundation for Smooth Ambiguity Preferences," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(2), pages 551-584, March.
    3. Marina Agranov & Anastasia Buyalskaya, 2022. "Deterrence Effects of Enforcement Schemes: An Experimental Study," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3573-3589, May.
    4. Peter Klibanoff & Sujoy Mukerji & Kyoungwon Seo, 2014. "Perceived Ambiguity and Relevant Measures," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82, pages 1945-1978, September.
    5. Epstein, Larry G. & Seo, Kyoungwon, 2015. "Exchangeable capacities, parameters and incomplete theories," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 879-917.
    6. Klibanoff, Peter & Mukerji, Sujoy & Seo, Kyoungwon & Stanca, Lorenzo, 2022. "Foundations of ambiguity models under symmetry: α-MEU and smooth ambiguity," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    7. Burkhard C. Schipper, 2024. "Predicting the Unpredictable under Subjective Expected Utility," Papers 2403.01421, arXiv.org.
    8. Roee Teper, 2016. "Who is a Bayesian?," Working Paper 5861, Department of Economics, University of Pittsburgh.
    9. Massimiliano Amarante, 2017. "Information and Ambiguity: Toward a Foundation of Nonexpected Utility," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 1254-1279, November.
    10. Victor Filipe Martins da Rocha & Rafael Mouallem, 2020. "Second-Order Beliefs and Second-Order Expected Utility," Working Papers hal-02922263, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decision making; Uncertainty; Parameters;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A1 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics

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