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Liking the long-shot … but just as a friend

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  • Matthew P. Taylor

    (University of Montana)

Abstract

I modify the skewed lottery task introduced by Grossman and Eckel (Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 51(3), 2015) to eliminate the effects of loss aversion as a potentially confounding explanation for the strong preference for skewed lotteries and increase in risk taking that they observe when skew increases. I also test for framing effects by reversing the order of the task. Like previous studies, a majority of subjects prefer skewed lotteries relative to those with no skew, but this preference is dampened when loss aversion is eliminated as a confound and the order of the task is reverse. More importantly, introducing skew is unlikely to cause an increase in risk taking in this task.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew P. Taylor, 2020. "Liking the long-shot … but just as a friend," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 245-261, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:61:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11166-020-09342-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11166-020-09342-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk aversion; Skewness; Framing effects; Order effect; Position effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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