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Self-centered beliefs : an empirical approach
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Proto, Eugenio and Sgroi, Daniel (2012) Self-centered beliefs : an empirical approach. Working Paper. Coventry: Department of Economics, University of Warwick. Warwick economics research paper series (TWERPS) (Number 978). (Unpublished)
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Text (Working paper)
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Official URL: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/resear...
Abstract
We perform an experiment designed to assess the accuracy of beliefs about distributions. The beliefs relate to behavior (mobile phone purchasing decisions, hypothetical restaurant choices), attitudes (happiness, politics) and observable characteristics (height, weight) and are typically formed through real world experiences. We find a powerful and ubiquitous bias in perceptions that is "self-centered" in the sense that an individual's beliefs about the population distribution changes with their own position in the distribution. In particular, those at extremes tend to perceive themselves as closer to the middle of the distribution than is the case. We discuss possible explanations for this bias.
Item Type: | Working or Discussion Paper (Working Paper) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Economics -- Psychological aspects, Economics -- Research, Economics -- Sociological aspects, Perception | ||||
Series Name: | Warwick economics research paper series (TWERPS) | ||||
Publisher: | Department of Economics, University of Warwick | ||||
Place of Publication: | Coventry | ||||
Official Date: | February 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Number: | Number 978 | ||||
Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Status: | Not Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||
Funder: | Leverhulme Trust (LT) | ||||
Version or Related Resource: | Proto, Eugenio and Sgroi, Daniel. (2012) Self-centred beliefs : an empirical approach. Working Paper. Coventry, UK: Department of Economics, University of Warwick. (CAGE Online Working Paper Series, No.75/2012). http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/57772 | ||||
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