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Reflections on gains and losses: A 2 × 2 × 7 experiment

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  • Antoni Bosch-Domènech
  • Joaquim Silvestre

Abstract

What determines risk attraction or aversion? We experimentally examine three factors: the gain-loss dichotomy, the probabilities (0.2 vs. 0.8), and the money at risk (7 amounts). We find that the majority display risk attraction for small amounts of money, and risk aversion for larger amounts. Yet the frequency of risk attraction varies according to the gain-loss dichotomy and the probabilities. Kahneman and Tversky studied gain-loss reflections. We submit that a reflection can be decomposed into a translation and a probability switch. We find significant translation and switch effects, which are of comparable magnitude, a result that is equidistant from the diverging two popular views inspired by Prospect Theory: the gain-loss asymmetry, and the fourfold pattern. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2006

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  • Antoni Bosch-Domènech & Joaquim Silvestre, 2006. "Reflections on gains and losses: A 2 × 2 × 7 experiment," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 217-235, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:33:y:2006:i:3:p:217-235
    DOI: 10.1007/s11166-006-0333-z
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    2. Géraldine Bocquého & Julien Jacob & Marielle Brunette, 2020. "Prospect theory in experiments: behaviour in loss domain and framing effects," Working Papers of BETA 2020-44, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    3. Marc Oliver Rieger & Mei Wang & Thorsten Hens, 2017. "Estimating cumulative prospect theory parameters from an international survey," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 82(4), pages 567-596, April.
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    7. Ranoua Bouchouicha & Peter Martinsson & Haileselassie Medhin & Ferdinand M. Vieider, 2017. "Stake effects on ambiguity attitudes for gains and losses," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 83(1), pages 19-35, June.
    8. Wolfgang Breuer & Ji Cao & Marc Oliver Rieger & K. Can Soypak, 2019. "Capital Structure Decisions, Loss Aversion, and Equity Premium," Working Paper Series 2019-04, University of Trier, Research Group Quantitative Finance and Risk Analysis.
    9. Ranoua Bouchouicha & Ferdinand M. Vieider, 2017. "Accommodating stake effects under prospect theory," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 1-28, August.
    10. M.A.L.M. van Assen & C.C.P. Snijders, 2010. "The effect of nonlinear utility on behaviour in repeated prisoner’s dilemmas," Rationality and Society, , vol. 22(3), pages 301-332, August.
    11. Uhl, Matthias W. & Rohner, Philippe, 2018. "The compensation portfolio," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 60-64.
    12. Enrico Giorgi & Thorsten Hens, 2006. "Making prospect theory fit for finance," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 20(3), pages 339-360, September.
    13. Koch, Christopher & Schunk, Daniel, 2007. "The Case for Limited Auditor Liability - The Effects of Liability Size on Risk Aversion and Ambiguity Aversion," Sonderforschungsbereich 504 Publications 07-04, Sonderforschungsbereich 504, Universität Mannheim;Sonderforschungsbereich 504, University of Mannheim.
    14. Sergio Almeida & Mauro Rodrigues, 2021. "Of two minds: An experiment on how time scarcity shapes risk-taking behavior," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2021_18, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    15. Malul, Miki & Rosenboim, Mosi & Shavit, Tal, 2013. "So when are you loss averse? Testing the S-shaped function in pricing and allocation tasks," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 101-112.
    16. Martin Herdegen & Nazem Khan & Cosimo Munari, 2024. "Risk, utility and sensitivity to large losses," Papers 2405.12154, arXiv.org.
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    19. Michal Krawczyk, 2011. "Framing in the Field. A Simple Experiment on the Reflection Effect," Natural Field Experiments 00690, The Field Experiments Website.

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