Motivated Errors / Christine L. Exley, Judd B. Kessler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Exley, Christine L.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Kessler, Judd B.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w26595.

NBER working paper series no. w26595

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2019.

Summary:

In three sets of experiments involving over 4,200 subjects, we show that agents motivated to be selfish make systematic decision errors of the kind generally attributed to cognitive limitations or behavioral biases. We show that these decision errors are eliminated (or dramatically reduced) when self-serving motives are removed. We say that individuals make "motivated errors." They make decision errors, but only when it is self-serving to do so.

Notes:

Print version record

December 2019.