Variation in risk seeking behavior in a natural experiment on large losses induced by a natural disaster (2012)

This study explores people’s risk attitudes after having suffered largereal-world losses following a natural disaster. Using the margins of the 2011 Australian oods (Brisbane) as a natural experimental setting, we find that homeowners who were victims of the floods and face large losses in property values are 50% more likely to opt for a risky gamble – a scratch card giving a small chance of a large gain ($500,000) – than for a sure amount of comparable value ($10). This finding is consistent with prospect theory predictions of the adoption of a risk-seeking attitude after a loss.

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Authors

Page Lionel, Savage David A., Torgler Benno