Risk Attitudes in Axiomatic Decision Theory: a Conceptual Perspective

Jean Baccelli (1, 2)

1 Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy
2 LMU - Ludwig Maximilian University [Munich] = Ludwig Maximilians Universität München

In this paper, I examine the decision-theoretic status of risk attitudes. I start by providing evidence showing that the risk attitude concepts do not play a major role in the axiomatic analysis of the classic models of decision-making under risk. This can be interpreted as reflecting the neutrality of these models between the possible risk attitudes. My central claim, however, is that such neutrality needs to be qualified and the axiomatic relevance of risk attitudes needs to be re-evaluated accordingly. Specifically, I highlight the importance of the conditional variation and the strengthening of risk attitudes, and I explain why they establish the axiomatic significance of the risk attitude concepts. I also present several questions for future research regarding the strengthening of risk attitudes.

Mots clés: non-expected utility; Allais paradox; conditional certainty equivalent; risk aversion; cautious expected utility; rank-dependent utility

Domaines: Philosophie; Economies et finances

Jean Baccelli. Risk Attitudes in Axiomatic Decision Theory: a Conceptual Perspective. Theory and Decision, 2018, 84 (1), pp.61-82. ⟨10.1007/s11238-017-9636-6⟩. ⟨hal-01620886⟩