Information, evolution and utility

, () and , M. ()
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,: University of Wisconsin
, M.: Washington University in St. Louis
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Jeroen Swinkels ()

Theoretical Economics, 2006, vol. 1, issue 1, 119-142

Abstract: Human utility embodies a number of seemingly irrational aspects. The leading example in this paper is that utilities often depend on the presence of salient unchosen alternatives. Our focus is to understand why an evolutionary process might optimally lead to such seemingly dysfunctional features in our motivations and to derive implications for the nature of our utility functions.

Keywords: Evolution; information; internal conflict; self control; temptation; time consistency; utility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C70 C72 D80 D82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006-03-02
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (36)

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Working Paper: Information, evolution and utility (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:the:publsh:166

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