2020Economics LettersOpen access

Choice consistency and strength of preference

Carlos Alós‐Ferrer, Michele Garagnani

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Abstract

Even when presented with the same choices multiple times, humans often make different decisions. We re-analyze data from five experiments using repeated choices in the domain of risky and inter-temporal choices and show that choice consistency is directly linked to cardinal differences in independently-estimated utilities. Strength of preference is monotonically related to choice consistency, with choices being more inconsistent when the alternatives are more similar in preference terms.

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Even when presented with the same choices multiple times, humans often make different decisions. We re-analyze data from five experiments using repeated choices in the domain of risky and inter-temporal choices and show that choice consistency is directly linked to cardinal differences in independently-estimated utilities. Strength of preference is monotonically related to choice consistency, with choices being more inconsistent when the alternatives are more similar in preference terms.

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Available abstract

Even when presented with the same choices multiple times, humans often make different decisions. We re-analyze data from five experiments using repeated choices in the domain of risky and inter-temporal choices and show that choice consistency is directly linked to cardinal differences in independently-estimated utilities. Strength of preference is monotonically related to choice consistency, with choices being more inconsistent when the alternatives are more similar in preference terms.

Key concepts: Consistency (knowledge bases), Preference, Econometrics, Revealed preference, Monotonic function, Economics, Mathematics, Mathematical economics

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