Biological correlates of the Allais paradox

Sergio Da Silva, Dinorá Baldo and Raul Matsushita

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We conducted a questionnaire study with student subjects to look for explicit correlations between selected biological characteristics of the subjects and manifestation of the Allais paradox in the pattern of their choices between sets of two pairs of risky prospects. We find that particular bio-characteristics, such as gender, menstrual cycle, mother’s age, parenthood, digit ratio, perceived negative life events, and emotional state, can be related to the paradox. Women, in particular if not menstruating, are less susceptible to the paradox. Those born to not-too-young mothers are also less prone to the paradox. The same holds true for those who father children, those with high prenatal testosterone exposure, who have reported many negative life events, and those who were anxious, excited, aroused, happy, active, and fresh at the time of the experiment. Further, left-handers and atheists may be less inclined to exhibit the paradox.

Keywords: Allais paradox; choice under risk; biological characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-11-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-neu and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Biological correlates of the Allais paradox (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:18938

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