Do Trade Union Leaders Violate Subjective Expected Utility?Some Insights from Experimental Data

Anna Maffioletti and Michele Santoni

No 01-43, Sonderforschungsbereich 504 Publications from Sonderforschungsbereich 504, Universität Mannheim, Sonderforschungsbereich 504, University of Mannheim

Abstract: Abstract: This paper presents the results of two experiments designed to test violations of Subjective Expected Utility Theory (SEUT) within a sample of Italian trade union delegates and leaders. Subjects priced risky and ambiguous prospects in the domain of gains. Risky prospects were based on games of chance, while ambiguous prospects were built on the standard Ellsberg paradox and on event lotteries whose outcomes were based either on the results of a fictional election or on the future results of the 1999 European Parliamentary election in Italy and the UK. The experiments show that, although risky prospects were priced at their expected values on average, trade union delegates and leaders did violate SEUT when assessing ambiguous prospects. Moreover, their behaviour depended on the source of uncertainty (Ellsberg paradox versus electoral results; fictional versus real election; Italy versus UK election outcomes). We discuss the implications of these results for the economic theory of the trade union as regards technological innovation and the unemployed.

Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2001-07-11
Note: Financial support from SFB 504, at the University of Mannheim, is gratefully acknowledged.
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Related works:
Journal Article: Do Trade Union Leaders Violate Subjective Expected Utility? Some Insights From Experimental Data (2005)
Working Paper: Do trade union leaders violate subjective expected utility? Some insight from experimental data (2001)
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