Logit, CES, and Rational Inattention
Publikation: Working paper › Forskning
We study fundamental links between two popular approaches to consumer choice: the multinomial logit model of individual discrete choice and the CES utility function, which describes a multiple choice of a representative consumer. We base our analysis on the rational inattention (RI) model and show that the demand system of RI agents, each of which chooses a single option, coincides with the demand system of a fictitious representative agent with CES utility function. Thus, the multiple choice of the representative agent may be explained by the heterogeneity in signals received by the RI agents. We obtain a new interpretation for the elasticity of substitution and the weighting coeficients of the CES utility function. Specifically, we provide a correspondence between parameters of the CES utility function, prior knowledge and marginal cost of information.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Antal sider | 22 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 22 jun. 2017 |
Navn | RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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Nummer | 593 |
- Det Samfundsvidenskabelige Fakultet
Forskningsområder
Links
- https://www.cerge-ei.cz/pdf/wp/Wp593.pdf
Forlagets udgivne version
- https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/cerpapers/wp593.htm
Forlagets udgivne version
ID: 217380682