Rational truth-avoidance and self-esteem
David Andolfatto (),
Steeve Mongrain and
Gordon Myers
Canadian Journal of Economics, 2009, vol. 42, issue 1, 141-154
Abstract:
We assume that people have beliefs about their abilities that generate self-esteem, and that self-esteem is valued intrinsically. Individuals face two choices; one of which strictly dominates the other in a pecuniary sense, but necessarily involves gathering information concerning their ability. We lay out the circumstances under which an individual may find it rational to reject the dominant choice, an act that, in psychology is described as "avoiding the situation". We then go on to show that the incentive to avoid the truth is increasing in income/wealth and decreasing in self-esteem, the perceived accuracy of one's self-assessment, and the role that luck plays in generating opportunities.
JEL-codes: D1 D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)
Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5982.2008.01502.x (text/html)
access restricted to subscribers
Related works:
Working Paper: Rational Truth-Avoidance and Self-Esteem (2007) 
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX
RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan)
HTML/Text
Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cje:issued:v:42:y:2009:i:1:p:141-154
Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.economic ... ionen/membership.php
Access Statistics for this article
Canadian Journal of Economics is currently edited by Zhiqi Chen
More articles in Canadian Journal of Economics from Canadian Economics Association Canadian Economics Association Prof. Werrner Antweiler, Treasurer UBC Sauder School of Business 2053 Main Mall Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Prof. Werner Antweiler ().