Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/37027 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
Bonn Econ Discussion Papers No. 21/2009
Publisher: 
University of Bonn, Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE), Bonn
Abstract: 
We propose an experimental method to test individuals for prudence (i.e. downside risk aversion) outside the expected utility framework. Our method relies on a novel representation of compound lotteries which allows for a systematic parameterization that captures the full generality of prudence. Therefore, we develop a general technique for lottery calibration in experiments. Since we investigate a very subtle third-order property we test our method in the laboratory employing a factorial design. We find that it yields robust results and that prudence is observed on the aggregate as well as on the individual level. Further we show that preferences based on statistical moments, in particular skewness seeking, can at most approximately explain individuals' behavior in the experiment.
Subjects: 
Decision making under uncertainty
risk preferences
prudence
downside risk
statistical moments
laboratory experiment
JEL: 
D81
C91
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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