Abstract
We study behavioral patterns of insurance demand for low-probability large-loss events (catastrophic losses). Individual patterns of belief formation and risk attitude that were suggested in the behavioral decisions literature emerge robustly in the current set of insurance choices. However, social comparison effects are less robust. We do not find any evidence for peer effects (through social-loss aversion or imitation) on insurance take-up. In contrast, we find support for the prediction that people underweight others’ relevant information in their own decision making.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 309-326 |
Journal | Theory and Decision |
Volume | 82 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | Sept 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2017 |
Keywords
- insurance
- risk attitudes
- beliefs
- catastrophic risk