Bradley, Richard (2008) Becker's thesis and three models of preference change. LSE Choice Group working paper series, vol. 4, no. 1. The Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS), London School of Economics, London, UK.
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Abstract
This paper examines Becker's thesis that the hypothesis that choices maximise expected utility relative to fixed and universal tastes provides a general framework for the explanation of behaviour. Three different models of preference revision are presented and their scope evaluated. The first, the classical conditioning model, explain all changes in preferences in terms of changes in the information held by the agent, holding fundamental beliefs and desires fixed. The second, the Jeffrey conditioning model, explains them in terms of changes in both the information held by the agent and changes in her prior beliefs, holding her fundamental desires fixed. The final model, that of generalised conditioning, allows for explanations in terms of changes in the values of all three variables.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Working Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www2.lse.ac.uk/CPNSS/Home.aspx |
| Additional Information: | © 2008 The author |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory |
| Sets: | Research centres and groups > LSE Choice Group Research centres and groups > Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS) Departments > Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method Collections > Economists Online |
| Identification Number: | vol. 4, no. 1 |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Feb 2010 11:43 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/27007/ |
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