Does Consistency Predict Accuracy of Beliefs?: Economists Surveyed About PSA
When economists' subjective beliefs about the sensitivity and positive predictive value of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test are internally consistent (i.e., satisfying Bayes' Rule), their beliefs about prostate cancer risk are less accurate than among those with inconsistent beliefs. Using a loss function framework, we investigate but cannot find evidence that inconsistent beliefs lead to inaccuracy, different PSA decisions, or economic losses. Economists' PSA decisions appear to depend much more on the advice of doctors and family members than on beliefs about cancer risks and the pros/cons of PSA testing, which have little to no joint explanatory power.
Year of publication: |
2013-04
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Authors: | Berg, Nathan ; Biele, G. ; Gigerenzer, Gerd |
Institutions: | Department of Economics, School of Business |
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