Probability, Expected Utility, and the Ellsberg Paradox

Author(s):  
Thomas Coleman
Author(s):  
Kerry E. Back

The Allais and Ellsberg paradoxes are presented. Various generalizations of expected utility motivated by these and other paradoxes are discussed, including betweenness preferences, rank‐dependent preferences, multiple prior max‐min preferences, and prospect theory. For betweenness preferences, which include weighted utility and disappointment aversion, an investor’s marginal utility is proportional to a stochastic discount factor. Disappointment averse utility and rank‐dependent utility have first‐order risk aversion. Multiple prior max‐min utility is one way to accomodate the Ellsberg paradox (ambiguity aversion or Knightian uncertainty). The dynamic consistency of updating multiple priors is discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document