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Regulating an agent with different beliefs

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  • Salanie, Francois
  • Treich, Nicolas

Abstract

There is some evidence that people have biased perceptions of risks, such as lethal or environmental risks. Hence their behavior is based on beliefs which may di¤er from the ’objective’ beliefs used by a regulator. The optimal regulation then depends on this di¤erence in beliefs. We set up a general framework and study this policy change. It turns out that, in many situations, the policy change depends on the absolute ’distance’ between beliefs, and not on whether agents over-estimate or under-estimate risks. We characterize the necessary and su¢cient condition for ’more distant’ beliefs to always reduce the regulator’s decision. We apply and extend that condition in several ways.

Suggested Citation

  • Salanie, Francois & Treich, Nicolas, 2002. "Regulating an agent with different beliefs," University of California at Santa Barbara, Economics Working Paper Series qt2224h6h7, Department of Economics, UC Santa Barbara.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:ucsbec:qt2224h6h7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gollier, Christian & Jullien, Bruno & Treich, Nicolas, 2000. "Scientific progress and irreversibility: an economic interpretation of the 'Precautionary Principle'," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 229-253, February.
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    5. repec:bla:econom:v:48:y:1981:i:191:p:235-50 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Richard H. Thaler, 2000. "From Homo Economicus to Homo Sapiens," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 133-141, Winter.
    7. Bergstrom, Theodore C, 1989. "A Fresh Look at the Rotten Kid Theorem--and Other Household Mysteries," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(5), pages 1138-1159, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olivier Armantier, 2006. "Estimates of Own Lethal Risks and Anchoring Effects," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 37-56, January.

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