Essential supremum and essential maximum with respect to random preference relations

In the first part of the paper, we study concepts of supremum and maximum as subsets of a topological space X$X$ endowed by preference relations. Several rather general existence theorems are obtained for the case where the preferences are defined by countable semicontinuous multi-utility representations. In the second part of the paper, we consider partial orders and preference relations “lifted” from a metric separable space X$X$ endowed by a random preference relation to the space L⁰(X)$L^0\left(X\right)$ of X$X$-valued random variables. We provide an example of application of the notion of essential maximum to the problem of the minimal portfolio super-replicating an American-type contingent claim under transaction costs.     

我国财税政策支持农村金融的制度缺陷

目前我国初步建立了农村金融的财税支持体系,但现行财税支持政策与金融税制结构和财政管理体制不对称,与农村金融体系和新农村建设不相适应,也与我国农村金融面临的主要约束不相符合,上述制度缺陷影响了农村金融的财税支持政策效果。本文针对上述制度缺陷从明确政府职能定位、优化财税扶持政策、建立多层次的农业信贷风险分担体系、提高财政支持政策的规范性和层次性四个方面提出了相应的政策建议。     

Food-away-from-home plate waste in China: Preference for variety and quantity

China is observing a rapid increase of food-away-from-home (FAFH) plate waste along with economic growth. Food waste reduces food use efficiency, exerts pressure on environment and resources, and threatens national food security. This study analyzes the impact of consumers’ preference for variety and restaurants’ dish portions on FAFH plate waste using a survey data from 170 restaurants in Beijing and Lhasa. The primary findings are that higher food variety leads to less plate waste and bigger portion size results in more plate waste. We also observe that increases in consumers’ income lead to more plate waste. Moreover, the Chinese Face-culture plays a significant role on consumers’ plate waste. Serving dishes with suitable portions in restaurants should be incentivized to help reduce both the amount and rate of plate waste. Our results can suggest relevant policy tools to nudge people in forming sustainable consumption behavior and provide valuable implications for reducing food waste and improving food security in China.     

UNDERSTANDING PREFERENCE IMPRECISION

The term ‘preference imprecision’ seems to have different meanings to different people. In the literature, one can find references to a number of expressions. For example: vagueness, incompleteness, randomness, unsureness, indecisiveness and thick indifference curves. Some of these are theoretical constructs, some are empirical. The purpose of this paper is to survey the various different approaches and to try to link them together: to see if they are all addressed to the same issue, and to come to some conclusions. In the course of this survey, we report on evidence concerning the existence of preference imprecision, and its impact on theoretical and empirical work.     

Measuring Farmer Risk Preferences in Europe: A Systematic Review

We present a systematic review of the extensive body of research on farmer risk preference measurement across Europe. We capture the methodological developments over time and discuss remaining challenges and potential areas for further research. Given the constantly evolving policy environment in Europe, and increasing climate-change related risks and uncertainties, there is large value to be gained from enhancing our understanding of this fundamental aspect of farmers’ decision-making processes and consequent actions.     

信仰的力量:东道国宗教信仰会影响中国OFDI吗？

基于2003-2015年中国对外直接投资流量数据及ARDA宗教数据，构造引力模型实证考察东道国宗教信仰多样性和东道国与中国宗教信仰相似性对中国OFDI的影响。分析结果表明，东道国宗教信仰多样性对中国OFDI有促进效应，但东道国与中国宗教信仰相似性对OFDI没有显著正影响。使用1900年宗教信仰结构匹配的宗教变量及1500年东道国与中国的遗传距离作为工具变量，纠正模型中可能存在的内生性问题后，这一结论依然存在。同时，用控制传导变量及剔除金融危机影响的方法进行稳健性测试的结果也支持这一结论。最后，在进一步的作用机制检验中初步发现，宗教信仰会通过选择偏好效应、信任间性效应和制度介导效应作用于对外直接投资。     

不公平对待对努力水平的影响——基于三阶段锦标模型的研究

行为经济学研究认为,人们在自利偏好之外还存在公平偏好,不公平对待将导致额外效用;而心理学实验又表明,不公平对待会使人们产生相对剥夺感并增加努力成本。基于公平偏好理论及相对剥夺观点,构建了三阶段晋升锦标模型,研究不公平对待对代理人努力水平的影响。结果表明,代理人的努力水平选择取决于对未来的预期,并且工资差距、努力成本、嫉妒和自豪心理以及监管精度都会影响代理人的努力水平。这一结论有利于预测代理人的行为规律,为建立最优激励机制提供更符合现实情况的理论依据。     

不完备偏好理论及其应用综述

本文在不完备偏好理论近期文献的基础上,以联系偏好和行为的一致性条件为主线,阐述了不完备偏好显示理论的最新进展:由Γ-理性化转向Δ-理性化,选择集由消费束转向机会集;分别在确定性和不确定性的经济环境下,回顾了不完备偏好的函数表示理论的发展脉络,即由单维函数转向多维函数;特别是,在不确定性的经济环境下,讨论了两种可能的不完备偏好(口味不决和信念不决)的函数表示理论;整理归纳了不完备偏好理论在行为经济学和博弈论等经济学领域中的若干应用。