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Economic Decisions and Simon’s Notion of Bounded Rationality

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  • Daniele Schilirò

Abstract

Decision making in economics has been always intertwined with the concept of rationality. However, neoclassical economic literature has been dominated by a specific notion of rationality, namely, perfect rationality, characterized by the assumption of consistency and by the maximization hypothesis. Herbert Simon, in his long research activity, questioned this concept of perfect or global rationality, suggesting a different vision, based on empirical evidence and regarding an individual’s choices. He challenged the neoclassical theory of global rationality, suggesting his notion of bounded rationality, a satisficing (instead of optimizing) behavior, and the relevance of procedural rationality to understand the process of thought of decision makers. Thus, this paper focuses on Simon’s notion of bounded rationality, since bounded rationality remains the hallmark of his theoretical contribution. First, the paper examines the economic decision process in the neoclassical theory and Simon’s notion of bounded rationality. Then, it analyzes in depth Simon’s behavioral model of rational choice, underlining the relevance of satisficing behavior and procedural rationality. Finally, it suggests an assessment of the concept of bounded rationality.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniele Schilirò, 2018. "Economic Decisions and Simon’s Notion of Bounded Rationality," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(7), pages 64-75, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ibrjnl:v:11:y:2018:i:7:p:64-75
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Herbert A. Simon, 1955. "A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 69(1), pages 99-118.
    2. Daniele Schilirò, 2012. "Bounded Rationality And Perfect Rationality: Psychology Into Economics," Theoretical and Practical Research in the Economic Fields, ASERS Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 99-108.
    3. Simon, Herbert A, 1978. "Rationality as Process and as Product of Thought," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 68(2), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Aumann, Robert J., 1997. "Rationality and Bounded Rationality," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 21(1-2), pages 2-14, October.
    5. Gustavo Barros, 2010. "Herbert A. Simon and the concept of rationality: Boundaries and procedures," Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Center of Political Economy, vol. 30(3), pages 455-472.
    6. Herbert A. Simon & Massimo Egidi & Ricardo Viale & Robin Marris, 1992. "Economics, Bounded Rationality and the Cognitive Revolution," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 409.
    7. Gerd Gigerenzer, 1997. "Bounded Rationality: Models of Fast and Frugal Inference," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 133(II), pages 201-218, June.
    8. Simon, Herbert A, 1979. "Rational Decision Making in Business Organizations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 69(4), pages 493-513, September.
    9. Matthias Klaes & Esther-Mirjam Sent, 2005. "A Conceptual History of the Emergence of Bounded Rationality," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 37(1), pages 27-59, Spring.
    10. Esther-Mirjam Sent, 2005. "Simplifying Herbert Simon," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 37(2), pages 227-232, Summer.
    11. Frantz, Roger, 2003. "Herbert Simon. Artificial intelligence as a framework for understanding intuition," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 265-277, April.
    12. Todd, Peter M. & Gigerenzer, Gerd, 2003. "Bounding rationality to the world," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 143-165, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Schilirò, Daniele, 2024. "Finanza sostenibile e sistema di finanza pubblica sostenibile [Sustainable finance and sustainable public finance system]," MPRA Paper 120216, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bounded rationality; economic decisions; expected utility; global rationality; procedural rationality; satisfying behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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