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Preference reversals in decisions that matter: Education choices in China

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  • Desmarchelier, Benoit
  • Qian, Lixian
  • Fang, Eddy S.

Abstract

Context effects are often tested with experiments about casual consumption choices. In this paper, we test for the emergence of such effects in life-changing choices made by respondents who are deeply considering the presented choice-set at the moment of the experiment. A choice experiment about postgraduate studies is implemented with 1486 Chinese undergraduate students. We observe the emergence of both attraction and compromise effects. Echoing a recent literature, we bring evidence that the attraction effect is violating the maximization theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Desmarchelier, Benoit & Qian, Lixian & Fang, Eddy S., 2018. "Preference reversals in decisions that matter: Education choices in China," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 122-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:77:y:2018:i:c:p:122-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2018.10.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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