Lottery valuation using the aspiration / relative utility function

Krzysztof Kontek ()

No 39, Working Papers from Department of Applied Econometrics, Warsaw School of Economics

Abstract: The paper presents a method for lottery valuation using the relative utility function. This function was presented by Kontek (2009) as “the aspiration function” and resembles the utility curve proposed by Markowitz (1952A). The paper discusses lotteries with discrete and continuous outcome distributions as well as lotteries with positive, negative and mixed outcomes providing analytical formulas for certainty equivalents in each case. The solution is similar to the Expected Utility Theory approach and does not use the probability weighting function – one of the key elements of Prospect Theory. Solutions to several classical behavioral problems, including the Allais paradox, are presented, demonstrating that the method can be used for valuing lotteries even in more complex cases of outcomes described by a combination of Beta distributions. The paper provides strong arguments against Prospect Theory as a model for describing human behavior and lays the foundations for Relative Utility Theory – a new theory of decision making under conditions of risk.

Keywords: Lottery Valuation; Expected Utility Theory; Markowitz Hypothesis; Prospect / Cumulative Prospect Theory; Aspiration / Relative Utility Function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2009-07-25
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mic, nep-neu and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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