Pure rank preferences and variation in risk-taking behavior

Oded Stark, Wiktor Budzinski, and Marcin Jakubek

Assuming that an individual's rank in the wealth distribution is the only factor determining the individual's wellbeing, we analyze the individual's risk preferences in relation to gaining or losing rank, rather than the individual's risk preferences towards gaining or losing absolute wealth. We show that in this characterization of preferences, a high-ranked individual is more willing than a low-ranked individual to take risks that can provide him with a rise in rank: relative risk aversion with respect to rank in the wealth distribution is a decreasing function of rank. This result is robust to incorporating (the level of) absolute wealth in the individual's utility function.

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Year of publication:	November 2019
Authors:	Stark, Oded ; Budziński, Wiktor ; Jakubek, Marcin
Publisher:	Bonn : Center for Development Research, University of Bonn
Subject:	Rank in the wealth distribution \| Rank-based utility \| Variation in risk-taking behavior \| Relative risk aversion \| Risikoaversion \| Risk aversion \| Risikopräferenz \| Risk attitude \| Theorie \| Theory \| Ranking-Verfahren \| Ranking method \| Vermögensverteilung \| Wealth distribution \| Nutzen \| Utility \| Nutzenfunktion \| Utility function \| Entscheidung unter Risiko \| Decision under risk