Prudence and prevention: empirical evidence

Theory shows that optimal prevention decisions in the sense of self-protection (i. e., primary prevention) depend not only on the level of (second-order) risk aversion but also on prudence (third-order risk aversion). We use a unique dataset that combines data on higher-order risk preferences and ob...

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Hauptverfasser: Mayrhofer, Thomas (VerfasserIn) , Schmitz, Hendrik (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: December 2025
In: Economics letters
Year: 2025, Jahrgang: 257, Pages: 1-7
ISSN:0165-1765
DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112671
Online-Zugang:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112671
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165176525005087
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Verfasserangaben:Thomas Mayrhofer, Hendrik Schmitz
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Theory shows that optimal prevention decisions in the sense of self-protection (i. e., primary prevention) depend not only on the level of (second-order) risk aversion but also on prudence (third-order risk aversion). We use a unique dataset that combines data on higher-order risk preferences and observed real-world preventive behavior and provide the first representative evidence of a negative relationship between prudence and self-protection: We find that prudent individuals in the high-risk group (above the age of 60 or chronically ill) indeed invest less in self-protection as measured by influenza vaccination. This does not hold for younger and healthy individuals for whom influenza vaccination rates are low in general.
Beschreibung:Online verfügbar: 13. Oktober 2025, Artikelversion: 16. Oktober 2025
Gesehen am 01.12.2025
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:0165-1765
DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112671