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The economics of escalation
Rationality and Society ( IF 0.895 ) Pub Date : 2021-01-06 , DOI: 10.1177/1043463120985310
Fabio D’Orlando 1 , Sharon Ricciotti 1
Affiliation  

Escalation is a key characteristic of many consumption behaviors that has not received theoretical attention. This paper aims to propose both a definition and a theoretical treatment of escalation in consumption. We define escalation as a subject’s attempt to obtain “more” or engage in consumption behaviors that are “more intense” on a measurable, quantitative or qualitative, objective or subjective, scale (more difficult ski slopes, stronger drugs, harder sex, better restaurants etc.), even if the subject preferred less intense consumption behaviors in the past. Further, this evolution in behavior also occurs if the budget constraint does not change. We will find endogenous and exogenous theoretical microfoundations for escalation in models of hedonic adaptation, desire for novelty, acquisition of consumption skills, rising aspirations, positional effects, and envy. However, we will also discuss the possibility that the tendency to escalate is a specific innate behavior inherent to human nature. Finally, we will propose a preliminary theoretical formalization of such behavior and indicate the possible implications of taking escalation into adequate consideration.

JEL codes: B52, D11, D90, D91, I31



中文翻译:

升级经济学

升级是许多没有受到理论关注的消费行为的关键特征。本文旨在提出消费升级的定义和理论方法。我们将升级定义为受试者在可测量的,定量的或定性的,客观的或主观的规模上获得“更多”或从事“更加激烈”的消费行为的尝试(滑雪坡难度更大,药物更强,性生活更难,餐馆更好)等等),即使受试者在过去喜欢较不激烈的消费行为。此外,如果预算约束不变,这种行为的演变也会发生。我们会发现在享乐适应模型,对新事物的渴望,对消费技能的掌握,不断增长的愿望,位置效应和嫉妒。但是,我们还将讨论这种升级趋势是人性固有的特定先天行为的可能性。最后,我们将对这种行为提出初步的理论形式化,并指出将升级逐步纳入适当考虑的可能含义。

JEL代码: B52,D11,D90,D91,I31

更新日期:2021-01-08
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