Information, beliefs, and decisions

Speaker
Ro'i Zultan, Ben-Gurion University of Negev
Date
02/11/2021 - 13:00 - 11:30Add To Calendar 2021-11-02 11:30:00 2021-11-02 13:00:00 Information, beliefs, and decisions Information is useful because it can reduce uncertainty and lead to better decisions. According to standard theory, information has value if agents can improve their outcomes by acting on the Bayesian posteriors associated with the information. However, there is ample evidence that belief updating deviates from the Bayesian benchmark, and that demand for–and use of–information is not driven solely by value. We study these issues in a single experimental framework, which combines belief elicitation with choice and use of information. Our contribution is twofold. We show that superficial aspects of the information source are important both for belief updating and for demand for and use of information. Second, we show that beliefs and decisions are linked in a non-trivial way. Joint with Aniol Llorente-Saguer and Santiago Oliveros. BIU Economics common room and will be Zoomed on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82536086839 אוניברסיטת בר-אילן - Department of Economics Economics.Dept@mail.biu.ac.il Asia/Jerusalem public
Place
BIU Economics common room and will be Zoomed on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82536086839
Affiliation
https://www.bgu.ac.il/~zultan/
Abstract

Information is useful because it can reduce uncertainty and lead to better decisions. According to standard theory, information has value if agents can improve their outcomes by acting on the Bayesian posteriors associated with the information. However, there is ample evidence that belief updating deviates from the Bayesian benchmark, and that demand for–and use of–information is not driven solely by value. We study these issues in a single experimental framework, which combines belief elicitation with choice and use of information. Our contribution is twofold. We show that superficial aspects of the information source are important both for belief updating and for demand for and use of information. Second, we show that beliefs and decisions are linked in a non-trivial way.

Joint with Aniol Llorente-Saguer and Santiago Oliveros.

Last Updated Date : 27/10/2021