This project examines the role of heterogeneity in gain-loss attitudes for identi- fying models of expectations-based reference dependence (Kőszegi and Rabin, 2006, 2007) (KR). Different gain-loss attitudes lead to different signs for KR comparative statics. Failure to account for the known...

This note reconsiders the classical problem of precautionary saving in the presence of an interest-rate risk, and provides a new interpretation of the threshold of 2 for the relative prudence index, which characterizes the necessary and sufficient condition for precautionary saving

We show how optimal saving in a two-period model is affected when prudence and risk aversion of the underlying utility function change. Increasing prudence alone will induce higher savings only if, for certain combinations of the interest rate and the pure time discount rate, there is...

This paper provides experimental evidence of the role of higher order risk attitudes - especially prudence - in prevention behavior. Prudence, under an expected utility framework, increases (decreases) self-protection effort compared to the risk neutral level when the risk of losing part of an...

We examine the optimal saving decision of individuals who face a multiplicative risk. An individual is defined to be multiplicative risk prudent if multiplying a pure risk to her future wealth raises her optimal savings. We show that an individual is multiplicative risk prudent if and only if...