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What independent random utility representations are equivalent to the IIA assumption?

Authors :
John K. Dagsvik
Source :
Theory and Decision. 80:495-499
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2014.

Abstract

This paper discusses random utility representations of the Luce model (Luce, Individual choice behavior: a theoretical analysis, 1959). Earlier works, such as McFadden (Frontier in econometrics, 1973), Yellott (J Math Psychol 15:109–144, 1977), and Strauss (J Math Psychol 20:35–52, 1979) have discussed random utility representations under the assumption that utilities are additively (or multiplicatively) separable in a deterministic and a random part. Under various conditions, they have established that a separable and independent random utility representation exists if and only if the random terms are type III (type I) extreme value distributed. This paper analyzes independent random utility representations without the separability condition and with an infinite universal set of alternatives. Under these assumptions, it turns out that the most general random utility representation of the Luce model is a utility function that is an arbitrary strictly increasing transformation of a separable utility function (additive or multiplicative) with extreme value distributed random terms.

Details

ISSN :
15737187 and 00405833
Volume :
80
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Theory and Decision
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........234886d3ad0364182da5d21f1e383808
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-014-9479-3