Rational Inattention via Ignorance Equivalence

Roc Armenter (), Michèle Müller-Itten and Zachary Stangebye ()

No 20-24, Working Papers from Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Abstract: We present a novel approach to finite Rational Inattention (RI) models based on the ignorance equivalent, a fictitious action with state-dependent payoffs that effectively summarizes the optimal learning and conditional choices. The ignorance equivalent allows us to recast the RI problem as a standard expected utility maximization over an augmented choice set called the learning-proof menu, yielding new insights regarding the behavioral implications of RI, in particular as new actions are added to the menu. Our geometric approach is also well suited to numerical methods, outperforming existing techniques both in terms of speed and accuracy, and offering robust predictions on the most frequently implemented actions.

Keywords: Rational inattention; information acquisition; learning. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C63 D81 D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51
Date: 2020-06-22
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-cmp, nep-mic and nep-upt
Note: superceded by WP 21-29 & 21-30
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: Rational Inattention via Ignorance Equivalence (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fip:fedpwp:88228

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DOI: 10.21799/frbp.wp.2020.24

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