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The Nature of Risk Preferences: Evidence from Insurance Choices

The Nature of Risk Preferences: Evidence from Insurance Choices Abstract We use data on insurance deductible choices to estimate a structural model of risky choice that incorporates “standard” risk aversion (diminishing marginal utility for wealth) and probability distortions. We find that probability distortions—characterized by substantial overweighting of small probabilities and only mild insensitivity to probability changes—play an important role in explaining the aversion to risk manifested in deductible choices. This finding is robust to allowing for observed and unobserved heterogeneity in preferences. We demonstrate that neither Kőszegi-Rabin loss aversion alone nor Gul disappointment aversion alone can explain our estimated probability distortions, signifying a key role for probability weighting. (JEL D14, D81, G22 ) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Economic Review American Economic Association

The Nature of Risk Preferences: Evidence from Insurance Choices

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Publisher
American Economic Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by the American Economic Association
Subject
Articles
ISSN
0002-8282
DOI
10.1257/aer.103.6.2499
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract We use data on insurance deductible choices to estimate a structural model of risky choice that incorporates “standard” risk aversion (diminishing marginal utility for wealth) and probability distortions. We find that probability distortions—characterized by substantial overweighting of small probabilities and only mild insensitivity to probability changes—play an important role in explaining the aversion to risk manifested in deductible choices. This finding is robust to allowing for observed and unobserved heterogeneity in preferences. We demonstrate that neither Kőszegi-Rabin loss aversion alone nor Gul disappointment aversion alone can explain our estimated probability distortions, signifying a key role for probability weighting. (JEL D14, D81, G22 )

Journal

American Economic ReviewAmerican Economic Association

Published: Oct 1, 2013

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