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Stochastic Expected Utility for Binary Choice: New Representations

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  • Matthew Ryan

    (School of Economics, Auckland University of Technology)

Abstract

We present new axiomatisations for various models of binary stochastic choice that may be characterised as "expected utility maximisation with noise". These include axiomatisations of strictly (Ryan 2018a) and simply (Tversky and Russo, 1969) scalable models, plus strict (Ryan, 2015) and strong (Debreu, 1958) Fechner models. Our axiomatisations complement the important contributions of Blavatskyy (2008) and Dagsvik (2008). Our representation theorems set all models on a common axiomatic foundation, progressively augmented by additional axioms necessary to characterise successively more restrictive models. In particular, we are able to decompose Blavatskyy's (2008) common consequence independence axiom into two parts: one that underwrites the linearity of utility and another than underwrites the Fechnerian structure of noise. This has signifcant advantages for testing the Fechnerian models, as we discuss.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Ryan, 2018. "Stochastic Expected Utility for Binary Choice: New Representations," Working Papers 2018-06, Auckland University of Technology, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:aut:wpaper:201806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John D. Hey, 2018. "Experimental investigations of errors in decision making under risk," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Experiments in Economics Decision Making and Markets, chapter 17, pages 381-388, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Dagsvik, John K., 2008. "Axiomatization of stochastic models for choice under uncertainty," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 341-370, May.
    3. Pavlo R. Blavatskyy & Ganna Pogrebna, 2010. "Models of stochastic choice and decision theories: why both are important for analyzing decisions," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(6), pages 963-986.
    4. Blavatskyy, Pavlo R., 2008. "Stochastic utility theorem," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(11), pages 1049-1056, December.
    5. Fishburn, P.C., 1984. "SSB Utility theory: an economic perspective," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 63-94, August.
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