Self-Correcting Information Cascades
Abstract
We report experimental results from long sequences of decisions in environments that are theoretically prone to severe information cascades. Observed behaviour is much different—information cascades are ephemeral. We study the implications of a theoretical model based on quantal response equilibrium, in which the observed cascade formation/collapse/formation cycles arise as equilibrium phenomena. Consecutive cascades may reverse states, and usually such a reversal is self-correcting: the cascade switches to the correct state. These implications are supported by the data. We extend the model to allow for base rate neglect and find strong evidence for overweighting of private information. The estimated belief trajectories indicate fast and efficient learning dynamics.
Additional Information
© 2007 The Review of Economic Studies Limited. Received December 1, 2004. Accepted August 1, 2006. Acknowledgements. Financial support from the National Science Foundation (SES-0551014 and SES-0079301) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. The theory and experimental design was partially completed, and pilot experiments were conducted in collaboration with Richard McKelvey, who died in April 2002. He is not responsible for any errors in the paper. We acknowledge helpful comments from Bo˘gacen Çelen, Terry Sovinsky, three anonymous referees, the managing editor, seminar participants at GREQAM, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, NYU, Penn State University, Princeton University, UCLA, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, University of Edinburgh, Washington University, the 2003 annual meeting of ESA in Pittsburgh, the 2003 Malaga Workshop on Social Choice and Welfare Economics, the 2003 SAET meetings in Rhodos, the 2003 ESSET meetings in Gerzensee, the 2004 PIER conference on Political Economy, and the 2004 Summer Festival on Game Theory at Stony Brook.Attached Files
Supplemental Material - 74-3-733-suppl.zip
Supplemental Material - supplement.pdf
Files
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:5263686f2dd79b77397c70a5fd28e30e
|
4.2 MB | Preview Download |
|
md5:c9156ac5fb657250adffca8f0c263f14
|
56.5 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 65034
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20160303-144825827
- NSF
- SES-0551014
- NSF
- SES-0079301
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Created
-
2016-03-28Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field