Search

The constant elasticity of substitution (CES) function is widely used to model distributional preferences in modified dictator games. However, it has been pointed out that its parameter interpretations are inconsistent and problematic in applications. We constructed a model to address this issue by combining two formulations of the CES function. We demonstrated that the proposed model provides consistent interpretations of parameters. Our results clarified that the conventional interpretations of the standard CES function parameters for describing distributional preferences are inappropriate. Notably, “the equality–efficiency trade-off,” a conventional interpretation of the substitution parameter, is unrelated to observed individual behaviors.

The convex time budget (CTB) method is a widely used experimental method for eliciting an individual’s time preference. Researchers adopting the CTB experiment usually assume quasi-hyperbolic discounting utility as a behavioural model and estimate the parameters of the utility function. However, few studies using the CTB method have examined parameter recovery. We conduct simulations and find that the estimation error of the present bias parameter is so large that its effect is difficult to detect. The large error is due to the improper combination of the experimental method and the utility model, and it is not a problem we can deal with after the data collection. This paper suggests the importance of running parameter recovery simulations to audit estimation errors in the experimental design.

The convex time budget (CTB) method is a widely used experimental method for eliciting an individual’s time preference. Researchers adopting the CTB experiment usually assume quasi-hyperbolic discounting utility as a behavioural model and estimate the parameters of the utility function. However, few studies using the CTB method have examined parameter recovery. We conduct simulations and find that the estimation error of the present bias parameter is so large that its effect is difficult to detect. The large error is due to the improper combination of the experimental method and the utility model, and it is not a problem we can deal with after the data collection. This paper suggests the importance of running parameter recovery simulations to audit estimation errors in the experimental design.

The constant elasticity of substitution (CES) function is widely used to model distributional preferences in modified dictator games. However, it has been pointed out that its parameter interpretations are inconsistent and problematic in applications. We constructed a model to address this issue by combining two formulations of the CES function. We demonstrated that the proposed model provides consistent interpretations of parameters. Our results clarified that the conventional interpretations of the standard CES function parameters for describing distributional preferences are inappropriate. Notably, “the equality–efficiency trade-off,” a conventional interpretation of the substitution parameter, is unrelated to observed individual behaviors.

We summarize the experimentally measured characteristics of the regis-tered participants of the experiments conducted at the Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University. Measured characteristics include uid intelligence, risk preference (risk aversion, prudence, and temperance), social value orientation, theory of mind, personality (Big Five and Grit), ability to backward induct, as well as their general trust. We discuss reliability of these measures and correlation among them.

This paper tests the effect of risk preferences on search activities by using a laboratory experiment. We used an infinite-horizon sequential search model with no recall in which an individual gains over search. We elicit the risk preferences from observed search activities of participants and from the multiple price list (MPL) method. We found the statistically significant effect of risk preferences elicited from the MPL method on the duration of search. The search duration is on average shorter for a risk averse individual than for risk loving one, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction. The significant effect of risk preferences on search activities has not been observed in the previous literature that used search model with recall in which an individual pays from the initial endowment over search (Schunk 2009, Schunk and Winter 2009). Therefore, the correlation between risk preferences and search activities depends on the type of search models.

This paper tests the effect of risk preferences on search activities by using a laboratory experiment. We used an infinite-horizon sequential search model with no recall in which an individual gains over search. We elicit the risk preferences from observed search activities of participants and from the multiple price list (MPL) method. We found the statistically significant effect of risk preferences elicited from the MPL method on the duration of search. The search duration is on average shorter for a risk averse individual than for risk loving one, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction. The significant effect of risk preferences on search activities has not been observed in the previous literature that used search model with recall in which an individual pays from the initial endowment over search (Schunk 2009, Schunk and Winter 2009). Therefore, the correlation between risk preferences and search activities depends on the type of search models.