Goals and Plans in Protective Decision Making / David H. Krantz, Howard Kunreuther.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Krantz, David H.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Kunreuther, Howard.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w12446.

NBER working paper series no. w12446

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2006.

Summary:

Protective decisions are often puzzling. Among other anomalies, people insure against non-catastrophic events, underinsure against catastrophic risks, and allow extraneous factors to influence insurance purchases and other protective decisions. Neither expected utility theory nor prospect theory can explain these anomalies satisfactorily. We propose a constructed-choice model for general decision making. The model departs from utility theory and prospect theory in its treatment of multiple goals and it suggests several different ways in which context can affect choice. To apply this model to the above anomalies, we consider many different insurance-related goals, organized in a taxonomy, and we consider the effects of context on goals, resources, plans and decision rules. The paper concludes by suggesting some prescriptions for improving individual decision making with respect to protective measures.

Notes:

Print version record

August 2006.