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Emotions and Risk Attitudes

Author

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  • Armando N. Meier
Abstract
Previous work has shown that preferences are not always stable across time, but surprisingly little is known about the reasons for this instability. I examine whether variation in people’s emotions over time predicts changes in risk attitudes. Using a large panel data set, I identify happiness, anger, and fear as significant correlates of within-person changes in risk attitudes. Robustness checks indicate a limited role of alternative explanations. An event study around the death of a parent or child further confirms a large relationship between emotions and risk attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Armando N. Meier, 2021. "Emotions and Risk Attitudes," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1118, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1118
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    File URL: https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.819425.de/diw_sp1118.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Andersson, Lina, 2022. "Fear and Economic Behavior," Working Papers in Economics 819, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    4. Chodick, Gabriel & Goldstein, Yoav & Shurtz, Ity & Zeltzer, Dan, 2022. "Challenging Encounters and Within-Physician Practice Variability," IZA Discussion Papers 15441, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Andersson, Ola & Campos-Mercade, Pol & Meier, Armando N. & Wengström, Erik, 2021. "Anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines reduces willingness to socially distance," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Emotions; happiness; risk attitudes; risk preferences; preference stability; SOEP;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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