Loss aversion in decision-making debunked, reshaping welfare economics models.
The study challenges the idea that most people make decisions based on expected utility theory. Instead, it suggests that human choices under risk are diverse, with rank-dependent utility models being more common than cumulative prospect theory. Loss-averse behavior is often due to how people weigh probabilities, not just the actual losses. This has implications for how we assess the effects of policies on welfare. Abandoning a strict belief in cumulative prospect theory can lead to a better understanding of human decision-making in economics.