Reference-Dependent Preferences

A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Individual Reference-Point Formation
2013
ISBN: 978-3-658-00634-1
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 224 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 148 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 3152 g

Most of our daily decisions are made under uncertainty and risk, without complete information about all relevant aspects. We all constantly make such decisions, from the simplest “should I take my raincoat today?” to more serious examples, such as those on investment and portfolio decisions, holding of shares, insurance patterns, or negotiation processes. Within these situations, the bounded rationality of individuals and institutions towards risk and uncertainty is embedded. The central theory underlying this study is prospect theory, an adequate model to predict the real and most often bounded rationality of human behavior given certain incentives, preferences, and constraints.

Evelyn Stommel investigates a crucial question within behavioral economics, namely the research on reference points within human decision making processes. Based on experimental investigations, she focuses three key challenges: what constitutes a reference point, the process of the formation of a reference point, and factors influencing the formation of reference points.

Zielgruppe

This study is intended for scholars, lecturers and students in the field of Business Administration with focus on behavioral economics or organizational theory. While this doctoral project primarily provides fundamental research findings, it also offers a variety of information for economic practice.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Stommel, Evelyn

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Organisationstheorie, Organisationssoziologie, Organisationspsychologie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Forschung und Information Entscheidungstheorie, Sozialwahltheorie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Volkswirtschaftslehre Allgemein Verhaltensökonomik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Literature review and research gaps.- Empirical investigations: expectations as reference points, personality traits and their influence on reference point formation, managerial reference point formation.- Summary and discussion.- Outlook.

Über Autor(innen)

Evelyn Stommel is a doctoral student at Wissenschaftliche Hochschule für Unternehmensführung (WHU) – Otto Beisheim School of Management.