This thesis uses nonparametric revealed preference methods to derive new tests for consistency with models of consumer behaviour, and discuss the implications for welfare analysis. Chapter 1 demonstrates how to conduct revealed preference analysis when prices, and hence budget constraints, are only partially observed. This chapter extends the revealed preference results of Crawford and Polisson (2015), derived for the static case, to dynamic settings, allowing for storability of goods. Necessary and sufficient conditions for consistency with intertemporal models are derived, which do not require the researcher to distinguish between corner solutions and unavailability of the good, or to impute prices. Chapter 2 discusses the validity of using reported happiness measures as proxies of utility or social welfare, by testing for consistency between revealed and reported preference orderings in Japanese household survey data. Although the expenditure behaviour of most households is consistent with standard models of utility maximisation, it is generally inconsistent with the preference ordering given by their reported happiness. This inconsistency is likely due to reporting error in the happiness measure, and suggests that happiness and utility are empirically distinct and noninterchangeable. Chapter 3 investigates the effect of price inattention on inflation misperceptions and cost-of-living indices, by developing a behavioural model in which consumers only notice price changes above a certain threshold. A data application, using supermarket scanner data, demonstrates that this model generates plausible results; in particular, consumers have more accurate perceptions of inflation during periods of high or volatile inflation, but may substantially misperceive inflation when it is low. These results have important implications for conducting welfare analysis when consumers are not fully attentive to price changes.

L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de comprendre l’origine de la variabilité d’expression du comportement sexuel (CS). Nous avons trouvé que l’approche latérale est le CS le plus exprimé et que sa quantification peut servir comme mesure de la libido et donner une idée de la performance. Nous avons montré des effets remarquables de l’âge et de la lumière sur le CS du bélier. Nous avons également montré que les structures cérébrales impliquées dans la phase motivationnelle et consommatoire ne étaient pas les mêmes et que quel que soit le partenaire sexuel préféré, l’exposition à ce partenaire provoquait une activation des mêmes structures cérébrales ; le niveau de libido semble être déterminé par des sites spécifiques et bien précis comme l’aire préoptique, le noyau paraventriculaire et la partie médiane du Lit de la strie terminale. Le Cortex ent pourrait fonctionner comme un inhibiteur de la motivation hétérosexuelle. / The main objective of this thesis was to acquire a better understanding of the origin of the variability of the expression of sexual behavior. The nudging is most expressed sexual behavior and quantification of this behavior can be used to measure their libido and give a clue on their performance. We have discovered the remarkable effects of age et lighting of the ram's sexual behavior and that the cerebral structures involved in the motivation phase and consummatory phase are not the same and seems that, no matter which sexual partner is chosen, the fact of being exposed to this partner provokes the activation of these cerebral structures et what the expression of sexual motivation level seems to have specific and precise sites in the Preoptic Area, the Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN) and the Nucleus of the bed of the striae terminalis medial (BNSTmed). The Entorhinal cortex could function as an inhibitor of heterosexual motivation.

Subsidies, taxes, premiums, and eligibility for health insurance can potentially cause "marriage lock," in which couples stay married for the sake of health insurance coverage, and marriage lock may change under the Affordable Care Act. In the first two chapters, marriage lock is examined in the context of two key health insurance decisions: divorce decisions upon qualification for Medicare at age 65, and marriage and divorce decisions associated with the introduction of the Massachusetts insurance mandate and health insurance exchange market reforms in 2006. In the first chapter, using the Health and Retirement Study data, I find evidence of a 7 percentage point increase in the number of divorces upon achieving Medicare eligibility at age 65 for people with spousal insurance coverage relative to those without it. In the second chapter, using the American Community Survey data, I find that the 2006 Massachusetts healthcare reform increased incentives for marriage in the health insurance exchange market relative to control states. Specifically, the Massachusetts reform appears to have reduced the divorce rate by 0.5 percentage point and increased marriage rate by 1.4 percentage points. In the third chapter, I use data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) to explore three decisions potentially affected by the implementation of Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). First, I find that individuals with MSAs incur 17 RMB more medical expenses per 1000 RMB increase in their MSAs balance, while I find no significant effect of after-tax income on medical expenses. Second, I study preference heterogeneity as revealed by three types of risky behaviors. I find undertaking risky investments is associated with 23% more medical expenditures, while always using a seatbelt and obeying traffic signals are associated with 16% and 22% higher medical expenditures, respectively. Finally, I find evidence suggesting that individuals become more risk adverse with MSAs than without, specifically by increasing their use of seatbelts and obeying traffic signals. These findings, using recent Chinese data, suggest that MSAs play an important role when consumers make health expenditure decisions, and that preferences involving risk and prevention also appear to be influenced by the MSA scheme.

Binge eating disorder is characterized by excessive consumption of highly palatable food within short periods of time accompanied by loss of control over eating. Extensive evidence provides support for the consideration of binge eating disorder as an addiction-like disorder. In this study, we wanted to determine whether rats undergoing an operant binge-like eating procedure could develop maladaptive forms of conditioned feeding behaviors. For this purpose, we trained male rats to self-administer either a sugary, highly palatable diet (Palatable rats) or a chow diet (Chow rats) for 1 hour/day. Following escalation and stabilization of palatable food intake, we tested both Chow and Palatable rats in a i) conditioned place preference, a ii) second-order schedule of reinforcement and, finally, a iii) cue-induced suppression of feeding. In the conditioned place preference task, Palatable rats spent significantly more time in the compartment which was paired with the palatable food when compared to Chow controls. Furthermore, in the second-order schedule of reinforcement task, Palatable rats exhibited active lever responding 4- to 6-fold higher than Chow control rats. Finally, in the conditioned suppression of feeding test, while Chow control subjects reduced responding by one-third in the presence of the conditioned punishment, Palatable rats persevered in responding despite the aversive cue. These results further characterize our animal model of binge-like eating and provide additional evidence for the addictive properties of highly palatable food.

Hur preferens påverkar behandlingsutfall är ett ämne som diskuteras och undersöks allt mer. Tidigare forskning indikerar en liten till moderat effekt av preferens på behandlingsutfall. Syftet i den här studien var att undersöka preferens, preferensstyrka och de närliggande begreppen förväntan och trovärdighet i relation till behandlingsutfall för två internetbaserade behandlingar för insomni, kognitiv terapi och beteendeterapi. 112 deltagare randomiserades till en av de två behandlingarna eller till att få välja behandling. Signifikant fler deltagare valde kognitiv terapi. Preferens för typ av behandling påverkade inte behandlingsutfallet. Det fanns heller inget samband mellan preferensstyrka och utfall, men deltagarna skattade det som viktigt att få välja. Det fanns en svag signifikant korrelation mellan förväntans- och trovärdighetsskattningarna och utfall. På grund av små och ojämna grupper är det svårt att dra några vidare slutsatser om hur preferens påverkar behandlingsutfall. / Behandling via Internet av Sömnproblem (BIS)

Orientador: Amauri Gouveia Júnior / Banca: Regina Célia Souza Brito / Banca: Olavo de Faria Galvão / Resumo: Foram administradas doses progressivas (12, 24, 36, 48 e 60μPb/L) e agudas (60μPb/L) de chumbo no Betta splendens (N = 23) e testados os comportamentos de display agressivo e escotataxia em cinco testes consecutivos, com intervalos de 18 horas - para dosagem progressiva - e 24 horas - para dosagem aguda. Realizaram-se sete experimentos: (1) validação do teste de preferência claro-escuro; (2) teste e re-teste da preferência claro-escuro; (3) efeito de doses progressivas de chumbo sobre teste de preferência claro-escuro; (4) efeitos de doses agudas de chumbo sobre teste de preferência claro-escuro; (5) teste e re-teste do display agressivo; (6) efeito de doses progressivas de chumbo sobre o display agressivo; (7) efeito de doses agudas de chumbo sobre o display agressivo, com exposição ao espelho. Os experimentos (1) e (2) indicaram que o Betta splendens apresenta comportamento de escotataxia, sendo que não houve habituação ao re-teste da preferência claro-escuro. Nos experimentos (3) e (4) indicaram que o chumbo em doses progressivas e agudas não alterou o comportamento de escotataxia, mas provocou déficits de memória de longo-prazo no teste de preferência claro-escuro. O experimento (5) não apresentou habituação no re-teste do display agressivo. Os experimentos (6) e (7) indicaram que o chumbo em doses progressivas e agudas aumentou a frequencia de comportamentos agressivos. Estes dados apontam para o teste de preferência claro-escuro como um novo modelo de ansiedade para o Betta splendens e que a exposição progressiva e aguda ao chumbo produz déficits de memória de longo-prazo e aumenta a agressividade deste. / Abstract: Betta splends (N = 23) were treated with progressive (12, 24, 36, 48 e 60μPb/L) and acute (60μPb/L) lead poisoning. They were submitted to darkness preference and aggressive display test into five consecutive trials separated by 18 h to progressive poisoning and 24 h to acute poisoning between trials. Seven experiments were conducted so: (1) validation of darkness preference test; (2) exposition and re-exposition to darkness preference teste; (3) effect of progressive lead doses on the darkness preference teste; (4) effect of acute lead dose on the darkness preference test; (5) exposition and re-exposition to aggressive display test; (6) effect of progressive lead doses on aggressive display test; (7) effect of acute lead dose on aggressive display test. Experiments (1) and (2) data showed the darkness preference of Betta splendens, since there was no habituation to re-exposition to darkness preference test. Experiments (3) and (4) data showed deficits on long-term memory produced by progressive and acute lead poisoning. Experiment (5) data showed no habituation to re-exposition to aggressive display test. Experiments (6) and (7) data showed the increase of aggressiveness display produced by progressive and acute lead poisoning. Therefore, these seven experiments data showed how darkness preference test can be a possible anxiety model to Betta splendens and how progressive and acute lead exposition can produce deficits in long-term memory and aggressiveness display increased. / Mestre

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of environmental changes that promote self-directed learning in the workplace by Human Resources Development (HRD) practitioners and to investigate possible differences of the dependent LPA score variables to independent variables of highest level of education achieved, race/ethnicity, age, gender, position title, industry, size of the organization, and years of HRD experience. The research used a mixed method design. Qualitative data were recorded through four focus groups until a saturation of comments was reached. Quantitative Pearson product moment correlation and ANOVA statistics were used to show the possible differences of LPA scores with each demographic variable. Tukey post-hoc tests were used to compare significant differences in mean scores of associated variables. Focus groups were conducted with 14 Human Resources Development (HRD) practitioners to collect the top five environmental preferences that promote self-directed learning in the workplace. The environmental preferences, the Learning Preference Assessment (LPA), and the demographic form made up the survey to measure participant self-directed learning readiness across independent variables. A total of 163 participants completed the survey. Results showed the consensus mean scores for importance of implementing environmental preferences that promote SDL in the workplace was 3.39 for other written categories and 3.31 for organization culture encourages employees to learn on their own. The consensus mean scores for ease of implementing environmental preferences that promote SDL in the workplace was 2.53 for flexibility to work virtually with mobile access to learning and 2.16 for managers guide employees/match content to role. Pearson product moment correlations showed no significant evidence of relationship between the continuous LPA mean scores and age variables. Group mean scores were compared for the remaining independent variables. The results were significant for the level of education and the size of the organization. Tukey post-hoc multiple comparisons tests were conducted for the differences of LPA scores and the demographic variables of highest level of education achieved and the size of organization. Only the level of education categories of high school diploma or equivalent and master’s degree were found to be significant.

This diploma thesis deals with consumer behavior during making a purchase of music in the Czech Republic. It focuses on factors which influence consumer during purchase process, on consumer purchase decision making and on consumer preferences and demands. The main source of data was a questionnaire survey conducted on sample of 565 respondents. The data were collected in October 2015. On the basis of the data the segmentation of the market was carried out. The survey results allowed to formulate recommendations and conclusions for music market in the Czech Republic, and music industry in general.

Dvořáková, G. Evaluation of branding of regional products in Chile with focus on small wine producers. Diploma thesis. Brno. 2015 The aim of the thesis is to find out what are the customers preferences when they buy a bottle of wine in terms of wine packaging and labels and if there is a need of branding for small wine producers as part of their marketing strategy. The regional products have started to be more demanded from Chilean customers and there was a need to find out if regional products can be connected to branding. There was analysed literature review, corresponding researches and studies. There was also created the pilot online survey about the Chilean customer's preferences. The pilot online survey is limited with the sample size and hence the sample is not representative. Therefore, the main focus is to find out how the consumers understand the questions and what should be the main improvements for the future research to avoid misunderstanding. The survey fulfilled 80 respondents and there was found out that 71,25 % of respondents decide to buy bottle of wine according to brand or name of the winery. The main attributes such as brand, name of winery, year and origin place was found out as the most important attributes for respondents. There was applied recommendation for future research to apply also qualitative research in form of in-depth interview or focus groups as there can be easily misunderstood the visual meaning. According to gathered data there was proposed a brand strategy as a guideline for small producers of wine. The thesis is written for a project Vitrina Campesina supported by Chilean government.

The master´s thesis characterizes farmers´ markets and their development, supervisory authorities which are linked with the farmers´ markets, the codex of farmers´ markets and the basic signs of quality. The main aim of the thesis is to identify the preferences and the buying behaviour of consumers who buy food on farmers´ markets and consecutive formulation of recommendation for sellers and producers of the original Czech food products who implement their goods on farmers´ markets based on the findings. The consumer's preferences survey was implemented by a direct interrogation through questionnaires. All age groups were included in the survey. There were 172 questionnaires which were filled and the data were processed to charts and tables and were evaluated through Microsoft Excel. Then an analysis of the dependency of chosen signs was done. The analysis was done using the x2 test of the independency in the IBM SPSS Statistics software and following confirmation or refusal of the hypothesis which were stated in advance. The findings show that the most visited farmers´ markets are the markets on Náplavka. The consumers who participated in the survey prefer the quality of the goods, the freshness of the goods and their own experience the most. The goods which the consumers buy the most often are fruits, vegetables, pastry, milk and dairy products.