A Canonical Model of Choice with Initial Endowments
Yusufcan Masatlioglu and Efe A. Ok
,
2
(
81
)
Review of Economic Studies
851-883
April
2014
Abstract
We use the revealed preference method to derive a model of individual decision making when the endowment of an agent provides a reference point that may influence her choices. This model generalizes the classical rational choice model, which views choice as a consequence of “utility maximization”. Instead, our model sees choice as arising from “psychologically constrained utility maximization”, where the constraints are induced by one's initial endowment. In particular, this model produces status quo bias as a natural consequence (but not necessarily the endowment effect).