INFORMATION PROCESSING AND COMMITMENT

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Falk, Armin; Zimmermann, Florian
• 署名单位: University of Bonn; University of Zurich
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/ecoj.12542
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 1983-2002
• 关键词: Redistributive politics; overconfidence

摘要

Beliefs are often found to be sticky and rather immune to new information. In this article, we highlight a specific mechanism that raises resistance to incorporate new information. We provide causal evidence that commitment to a first opinion leads to a neglect of new and challenging information. Being asked to write down an initial estimate before additional information is obtained significantly and substantially reduces the accuracy of final beliefs. Investigating the sources of this effect, we show that our findings are well explained by an internal desire to act consistently.