|
on Cultural Economics |
|
Issue of 2006‒03‒18
one paper chosen by Roberto Zanola Universita degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Alan Beggs; Kathryn Graddy |
| Abstract: | This paper tests for reference dependence, using data from Impressionist and Contemporary Art auctions. We distinguish reference dependence based on "rule of thumb" learning from reference dependence based on "rational" learning. Furthermore, we distinguish pure reference dependence from effects due to loss aversion. Thus, we use actual market data to test essential characteristics of Kahneman and Tversky`s Prospect Theory. The main methodological innovations of this paper are firstly, that reference dependence can be identified separately from loss aversion. Secondly, we introduce a consistent non-linear estimator to deal with measurement errors problems involved in testing for loss aversion. In this dataset, we find strong reference dependence but no loss aversion. |
| Keywords: | Reference Dependence, Loss Aversion, Prospect Theory, Art, Auctions |
| JEL: | D81 D44 L82 |
| Date: | 2005 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oxf:wpaper:228&r=cul |