We study the consequences of introducing random costs (as opposed to certain costs) on the propensity to implement self-protection actions, i.e. actions reducing the probability of a loss. Our analysis is performed in four standard self-protection frameworks: (1) the one-period model in which the cost and benefit occur at the same period of time; (2) a variation of this one-period model where wealth in each state of nature is a random variable; (3) the one-period model where the cost of the self-protection action is only paid in the absence of loss; (4) the two-period model in which the cost of self-protection precedes its benefit. For each of these models we provide a set of conditions ensuring clear-cut effects to occur and a specific interpretation for each of them.

我们研究了引入随机成本（而不是某些成本）对实施自我保护行动（即降低损失可能性的行动）的倾向的后果。我们的分析是在四个标准的自我保护框架中进行的：（1）一期模型，其中成本和收益在同一时间段内发生；（2）此一周期模型的一种变体，其中每个自然状态下的财富都是随机变量；（3）一期模式，只有在没有损失的情况下才支付自我保护行动的费用；（4）两阶段模型，其中自我保护的成本先于其利益。对于这些模型中的每一个，我们提供一组条件以确保产生明确的效果，并为每个模型提供特定的解释。