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Lost in objective translation: Awareness of unawareness when unknowns are not simply unknowns

Author

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  • Marie-Louise Vierø

    (Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University)

Abstract

This paper models decision makers who are cognisant of their own potential unawareness and who may have an a priori sense that not all unknowns are equal. Karni and Vierø (2017) provide a choice theoretic model of growing awareness when the decision maker has awareness of her unawareness. Their framework, together with their axiomatic structure, results in all potential consequences that the decision maker is unaware of being treated identically from an a priori point of view. However, in the context of growing awareness, one can argue for differences in valuations a priori. Different types of surprises could be anticipated in different situations. This paper proposes a model that accommodates such a priori differences in anticipation. It allows for subjectively different unknowns and provides a representation of preferences that has an expected utility structure, but where the attitudes towards differently perceived unknowns are allowed to differ.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie-Louise Vierø, 2022. "Lost in objective translation: Awareness of unawareness when unknowns are not simply unknowns," Economics Working Papers 2022-06, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:aarhec:2022-06
    as

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    File URL: https://repec.econ.au.dk/repec/afn/wp/22/wp22_06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Skiadas, Costis, 1997. "Subjective Probability under Additive Aggregation of Conditional Preferences," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 242-271, October.
    2. Simon Grant & John Quiggin, 2015. "A preference model for choice subject to surprise," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 79(2), pages 167-180, September.
    3. Kreps, David M, 1979. "A Representation Theorem for "Preference for Flexibility"," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 47(3), pages 565-577, May.
    4. Halpern, Joseph Y. & Rêgo, Leandro C., 2013. "Reasoning about knowledge of unawareness revisited," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 73-84.
    5. Karni, Edi & Vierø, Marie-Louise, 2017. "Awareness of unawareness: A theory of decision making in the face of ignorance," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 301-328.
    6. Costis Skiadas, 1997. "Conditioning and Aggregation of Preferences," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 65(2), pages 347-368, March.
    7. Uyanik, Metin & Khan, M. Ali, 2022. "The continuity postulate in economic theory: A deconstruction and an integration," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    8. Kochov, Asen, 2018. "A behavioral definition of unforeseen contingencies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 265-290.
    9. Vierø, Marie-Louise, 2021. "An intertemporal model of growing awareness," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    10. Piermont, Evan, 2017. "Introspective unawareness and observable choice," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 134-152.
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    Cited by:

    1. Scott Condie & Lars Stentoft & Marie-Louise Vierø, 2023. "Unawareness Premia," Economics Working Papers 2023-09, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Awareness; Unawareness; Unknown unknowns; Utility of indescribable consequences; Attitudes towards the unknown;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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