Theoretical Economics, Volume 2, Number 3 ( 2007)

Theoretical Economics 2 (2007), 261–298


Updating preferences with multiple priors

Eran Hanany, Peter Klibanoff

Abstract


We propose and axiomatically characterize dynamically consistent update rules for decision making under ambiguity. These rules apply to the preferences with multiple priors of Gilboa and Schmeidler (1989), and are the first, for any model of preferences over acts, to be able to reconcile typical behavior in the face of ambiguity (as exemplified by Ellsberg’s paradox) with dynamic consistency for all non-null events. Updating takes the form of applying Bayes’ rule to subsets of the set of priors, where the specific subset depends on the preferences, the conditioning event, and the choice problem (i.e., a feasible set of acts together with an act chosen from that set).

Keywords: Updating, dynamic consistency, ambiguity, Ellsberg, Bayesian, consequentialism

JEL classification: D81, D83, D91

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