Testing Alternative Explanations of Cyclical Choices

Chris Starmer and Robert Sugden

Economica, 1998, vol. 65, issue 259, 347-361

Abstract: In two previously reported experiments, Loomes, Starmer and Sugden have found that choices are systematically non‐transitive, following a pattern of ‘cycling asymmetry’ predicted by regret theory. However, there are other potential explanations for these observations. This paper reports four experiments designed to discriminate between alternative explanations. There are three main findings. First, when the original experiments are replicated, the same cycling asymmetry is found. Second, this pattern is not the result of event‐splitting effects. Third, both the frequency and the asymmetry of cycles are greater when choice problems are presented in act/event matrices than when the options are described separately.

Date: 1998
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