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  • © 2005

Psychology, Rationality and Economic Behaviour

Challenging Standard Assumptions

Palgrave Macmillan

Part of the book series: International Economic Association Series (IEA)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction

    1. Introduction

      • Bina Agarwal, Alessandro Vercelli
      Pages 1-15
  3. Analytical Models and Methodological Issues

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 17-17
    2. Self-Confidence and Personal Motivation

      • Roland Bénabou, Jean Tirole
      Pages 19-57
    3. Rationality, Learning and Complexity

      • Alessandro Vercelli
      Pages 58-83
    4. Altruism: Evolution and a Repercussion

      • Oded Stark, You Qiang Wang, Yong Wang
      Pages 84-105
  4. Laboratory and Field Experiments

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 153-153
    2. Expectations and the Effects of Money Illusion

      • Ernst Fehr, Jean-Robert Tyran
      Pages 155-180
    3. Utility-Based Altruism: Evidence from Experiments

      • Alexander Kritikos, Friedel Bolle
      Pages 181-194

About this book

Economics has paid little attention to the psychology of economic behaviour, leading to somewhat simplistic assumptions about human nature. The psychological aspects have typically been reduced to standard utility theory, based on a narrow conception of rationality and self-interest maximization. The contributions in this volume, some focused on analytical models and methodology, others on laboratory and field experiments, challenge these assumptions, and provide novel and complex understandings of human motivation and economic decision-making. With a pioneering introduction by the book's two editors, this volume brings together exciting contributions to a field that is rapidly growing in influence and reach.

Reviews

'...all papers in both parts of this volume are of high quality and extend the frontiers of both behavioural and experimental economics. The applications span across the gamut of fields in economics and the editors of this volume should be commended for collating and integrating these nuggets into a volume that makes for stimulating reading and an excellent introduction to the field.' - Shreekant Gupta, Indian Economic Review

'Overall, this volume is noteworthy for the breadth of topics covered and psychological constructs incorporated into economic models. Several of the studies contribute to the growing literature in experimental economics.' - Roxane Gudeman, Feminist Economics

Editors and Affiliations

  • Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi, India

    Bina Agarwal

  • University of Siena, Italy

    Alessandro Vercelli

About the editors

RONALD BENABOU Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University, USA FREIDEL BOLLE Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany JUAN-CAMILO CARDENAS Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia OTTARINO CHILLEMI Università di Padova, Italy FLORIAN ENGLMAIER Universität München, Germany ERNST FEHR Institut für Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung, Universität Zürich, Switzerland ALEXANDER KRITIKOS Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany JOCHEN JUNGEILGES Universität Bielefeld, Germany ODED STARK ZEF, Universität Bonn, Germany THEIS THEISEN School of Management, Agder University College, Kristiansand, Norway JEAN TIROLE Institut d'Economie Industrielle, Université de Toulouse, France JEAN-ROBERT TYRAN Institute of Economics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark ALEXANDER VASIN Moscow State University, Russian Federation YONG WANG City University of Hong Kong, China YOU QUIANG WANG School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access