Fondazione GRINS
Growing Resilient,
Inclusive and Sustainable
Galleria Ugo Bassi 1, 40121, Bologna, IT
C.F/P.IVA 91451720378
Finanziato dal Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), Missione 4 (Infrastruttura e ricerca), Componente 2 (Dalla Ricerca all’Impresa), Investimento 1.3 (Partnership Estese), Tematica 9 (Sostenibilità economica e finanziaria di sistemi e territori).



Open Access
GRINS THEMATIC AREAS
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Choice mistakes may be consequential. While we have plentiful evidence on adult behaviour, childrenÕs choices are much less studied, yet not only may they shed light on adult behaviour, but they are themselves important, as potentially leading to low educational attainment, unhealthy food choices, and risky behaviours. In this paper, we study experimentally how childrenÕs choice consistency and ability to avoid mistakes change with age. We study choice by primary school children in two (ubiquitous) domains: riskless and risky choice. We elicit complete choice functions over deterministic choices, while for lotteries we introduce a novel experimental design, documenting as a particular type of framing effect, consistent with correlation neglect, so far only studied in adults. With plentiful evidence of choice errors in adults, unsurprisingly choice errors and inconsistencies abound in children - strikingly though, in some cases already by age 10-11 children display error rates which are close to those observed in adults. Our results are well captured by a model of limited, stochastic consideration. Our experiment is rich enough to highlight the shape that potential interventions could take, aiming at increasing childrenÕs consideration capacity. Different socioeconomic backgrounds seem to matter, though, reassuringly, the gap does tend to close over time.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, in the framework of the GRINS - Growing Resilient, INclusive and Sustainable project (GRINS PE00000018). The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, nor can the European Union be held responsible for them.
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