Elicitation mechanisms typically presume only money enters utility functions. However, nonmonetary objectives are confounders. In particular, psychologists argue people favor bets where ability is involved over equivalent random bets—a preference for control. Our new elicitation method mitigates control and determines that under the widely used matching probabilities method, subjects report bel...

Nitrosomonas eutropha is an ammonia-oxidizing betaproteobacterium found in environments with high ammonium levels, such as wastewater treatment plants. The effects of NO(2) on gene and protein expression under oxic and anoxic conditions were determined by maintaining N. eutropha strain C91 in a chemostat fed with ammonium under oxic, oxic-plus-NO(2), and anoxic-plus-NO(2) culture conditions. Ce...

We present experimental evidence suggesting that observational learning (i.e., learning-by-notdoing but by observing) may outperform learning-by-doing.  2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. JEL classification: C91; D83

We studied the effects of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) on human endothelial cells in vitro. During cocultivation with an HTLV-I producer cell line (C91/PL), endothelial cells formed characteristic multinucleated syncytial giant cells. Inoculation with concentrated cell-free supernatant fluid from C91/PL cultures produced similar cytopathic effects, which were neutralized by pretre...

Using a laboratory experiment, we identify whether decision-makers consider it mistake to violate canonical choice axioms. To do this, incentivize subjects report axioms they want their decisions satisfy. Then, make lottery choices which might conflict with axiom preferences. In instances of conflict, give the opportunity re-evaluate decisions. We find that many individuals follow and revise be...

ABSTRACT I examine inspector-auditor interactions and test proposed changes to the existing inspection process using a stylized experiment with real-effort repeated interactions. first show that when holding incentives constant, if inspectors perceive request additional audit work, they escalate their deficiency assessments more work. then increasing discussions before formally assess auditors’...

We compare the behavior of car mechanics and college students as sellers in experimental credence goods markets. Finding largely similar behavior, we note much more overtreatment by car mechanics, probably due to decision heuristics they learned in their professional training. JEL classifications: C91, D82, C72

Do the Reciprocal Trust Less? We study the intrapersonal relationship between trust and reciprocity in a laboratory experiment. Reciprocal subjects trust significantly more than selfish ones. This finding raises questions about theories of social preferences which predict that “fairer” players should trust less. JEL Classification: C91, D63

ABSTRACT This study investigates biases in tax decisions. In a series of four laboratory experiments with 303 students and 62 professionals, we document systematic tax-rate bias decisions under time constraints. Specifically, decision makers overestimate the relevance less complex information compared to more tax-base information. behavior leads suboptimal We also find that making, on average, ...

This paper studies, theoretically and experimentally, the effects of overconfidence fake news on information aggregation quality democratic choice in a common-interest setting. We show that exacerbates adverse widespread misinformation (i.e., news). then analyze richer models allow for partisanship, targeted intended to sway public opinion, signals correlated across voters (due media ownership ...