When more is less: Limited consideration

Juan Sebastián Lleras, Yusufcan Masatlioglu, Daisuke Nakajima () and Erkut Ozbay

Journal of Economic Theory, 2017, vol. 170, issue C, 70-85

Abstract: There is well-established evidence that decision makers consistently fail to consider all available options. Instead, they restrict attention to only a subset of alternatives and then undertake a more detailed analysis of this reduced set. This systematic lack of consideration of available options can lead to a “more is less” effect, where excess of options can be welfare-reducing for a decision-maker (DM). Building on this idea, we model individuals who might pay attention to only a subset of the choice problem presented to them. Within this smaller set, a DM is rational in the standard sense, and she chooses the maximal element with respect to her preference. We provide a choice theoretical foundation for our model. In addition, we show which alternatives are revealed preferred to which and discuss welfare implications.

Keywords: Revealed preferences; Attention; Consideration set; Preference reversal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D11 D81 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (69)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:170:y:2017:i:c:p:70-85

DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2017.04.004

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