动态随机效用

Dynamic Random Utility

Econometrica · 2019
被引 21
人大 A+FT50ABS 4*

中文导读

公理化分析了动态随机效用模型,刻画了求解动态决策问题的代理人的随机选择行为,并揭示了该模型对跨期行为施加的可检验限制,以及贝叶斯理性公理对随机性形式的约束。

Abstract

We provide an axiomatic analysis of dynamic random utility, characterizing the stochastic choice behavior of agents who solve dynamic decision problems by maximizing some stochastic process ( U t ) of utilities. We show first that even when ( U t ) is arbitrary, dynamic random utility imposes new testable across‐period restrictions on behavior, over and above period‐by‐period analogs of the static random utility axioms. An important feature of dynamic random utility is that behavior may appear history‐dependent , because period‐ t choices reveal information about U t , which may be serially correlated; however, our key new axioms highlight that the model entails specific limits on the form of history dependence that can arise. Second, we show that imposing natural Bayesian rationality axioms restricts the form of randomness that ( U t ) can display. By contrast, a specification of utility shocks that is widely used in empirical work violates these restrictions, leading to behavior that may display a negative option value and can produce biased parameter estimates. Finally, dynamic stochastic choice data allow us to characterize important special cases of random utility—in particular, learning and taste persistence—that on static domains are indistinguishable from the general model.

动态随机效用跨期限制历史依赖贝叶斯理性