Skip to main content
Log in

Neuroeconomics?

  • Published:
International Review of Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The point of departure for most neuroeconomics is behavioral economics: the rational man of economics has been rejected in favor of more realistic psychological models. The old model supposes hyperrationality of individuals, and because it has been discredited, existing economic theory is useless. To complete the behavioral revolution, we need only peer into the brain and build more realistic models of decision making. As I explain here, this assessment of modern economics is hopelessly wrong.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bolton GE, Ockenfels A (2000) ERC: a theory of equity, reciprocity, and competition. Am Econ Rev 90:166–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Della Vigna S, Malmendier U (2006) Paying not to go to the gym. Am Econ Rev 96:694–719

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond DW, Dybvig PH (1983) Bank runs, deposit insurance, and liquidity. J Polit Econ 91:401–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Feddersen TJ, Pesendorfer W (1996) The swing voter’s curse. Am Econ Rev 86:408–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Fehr E, Schmidt KM (1999) A theory of fairness, competition, and cooperation. Q J Econ 114:817–868

    Google Scholar 

  • Fudenberg D, Levine DK (1993) Self-confirming equilibrium. Econometrica 61:523–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Fudenberg D, Levine DK (1995) Consistency and cautious fictitious play. J Econ Dyn Control 19:1065–1090

    Google Scholar 

  • Fudenberg D, Levine DK (1997) measuring players’ losses in experimental games. Q J Econ 112:508–536

    Google Scholar 

  • Fudenberg D, Levine DK (2009) Self-confirming equilibrium and the Lucas critique. J Econ Theory (forthcoming)

  • Goeree JK, Holt CA (2001) Ten little treasures of game theory and ten intuitive contradictions. Am Econ Rev 91:1402–1422

    Google Scholar 

  • Gul F, Pesendorfer W (2004) The canonical type space for interdependent preferences

  • Krugman P (1979) A model of balance-of-payments crises. J Money Credit Bank 11:311–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine DK (1998) Modeling altruism and spitefulness in experiments. Rev Econ Dyn 1:593–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine DK, Palfrey TR (2007) The paradox of voter participation: a laboratory study. Am Polit Sci Rev 101:143–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine DK, Zheng J (2010) The relationship of economic theory to experiments. In: Frechette G, Schotter A (eds) The methods of modern experimental economics. Oxford University Press, Oxford

  • McFadden D (1980) Econometric models for probabilistic choice among products. J Bus 53:S13–S29

    Google Scholar 

  • McKelvey RD, Palfrey TR (1995) Quantal response equilibria for normal form games. Games Econ Behav 10:6–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen L (2009) When everyone runs for the exit. Working paper, NYU

  • Plott CR, Smith VL (1978) An experimental examination of two exchange institutions. Rev Econ Stud 45:133–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Plott CR, Zeiler K (2005) The willingness to pay-willingness to accept gap, the endowment effect and subject misconceptions. Am Econ Rev 77:554–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabin M (1993) Incorporating fairness into game theory and economics. Am Econ Rev 83:1281–1302

    Google Scholar 

  • Radner R (1990) Collusive behavior in noncooperative epsilon-equilibria of oligopolies with long but finite lives. J Econ Theory 22:136–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth AE, Prasnikar V, Okuno-Fujiwara M, Zamir S (1991) Bargaining and market behavior in Jerusalem, Ljubljana, Pittsburgh, and Tokyo: an experimental study. Am Econ Rev 81:1068–1095

    Google Scholar 

  • Salant SW (1983) The vulnerability of price stabilization schemes to speculative attack. J Polit Econ 91:1–38

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

NSF grants SES-03-14713 and SES-08-51315 provided financial support. I am grateful to Colin Camerer, Guillame Frechette, Drew Fudenberg, Glenn Harrison, Rosemarie Nagel, Tom Palfrey, and Jie Zheng for many discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David K. Levine.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Levine, D.K. Neuroeconomics?. Int Rev Econ 58, 287–305 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-011-0128-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-011-0128-7

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation