The dissertation looks at three topics that involve experimental economics methods or individual decision making under risk: how do people make educational decisions when facing the risk of drop out; which models best characterize individuals' decision processes under risk; how can physicians improve discharge decisions to reduce the risk of unplanned readmissions. In the first chapter, I introduce the risk of dropout into Spence’s job market signaling model and test the modified model in the laboratory. I look at equilibria in the labor market and discuss the refinement based on the Cho-Kreps Intuitive Criterion. I derive the condition under which a separating equilibrium is the only perfect Bayesian equilibrium that survives the refinement and discuss the effects of workers' risk preferences on these equilibrium predictions. The data from lab experiments show that the market reaches the separating equilibrium more often when it is the only intuitive equilibrium. I also observe that, when the share of the low-ability type in the worker population decreases, or the cost to pursue a degree increases, the size of the wage premium for having the degree generally decreases. In the experiments, I use binary lottery tasks to elicit subjects' risk preferences to explain their strategies in the signaling games, and the analyses partially confirm the prediction that more risk-averse individuals pursue a higher degree less frequently in the presence of dropout risks. In the second chapter, as part of a joint project with Dr. Glenn W. Harrison and Dr. Rusty Tchernis, we apply the Bayesian econometric method to estimation of individual preferences under risk. We estimate a mixture model of Expected Utility Theory and Cumulative Prospect Theory using both simulated and observed binary lottery choices. We develop Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms to sample from the posterior distribution of parameters in the mixture model and compare the performances of different algorithms. The algorithms generally recover the true parameters used in the simulation, although some algorithms outperformed others in terms of efficiency. We also apply the algorithms to estimation using actual choice data. We find that 56.5% of the subjects can be characterized as consistent with Expected Utility Theory and 43.5% with Cumulative Prospect Theory. We find modest risk aversion among Expected Utility maximizers, and overweighting on the probabilities of extreme outcomes with very mild loss aversion among Cumulative Prospective Utility maximizers. In the third chapter, coauthored with Dr. Ira L. Leeds, Dr. Vjollca Sadiraj, Dr. James C. Cox, Dr. Timothy M. Pawlik, Dr. Kurt E. Schnier and Dr. John F. Sweeney, we sought to define the association between information used for hospital discharge and patients' subsequent risk of unplanned readmission. De-identified data for patients from a tertiary academic medical center's surgical services were analyzed using a time-to-event model to identify criteria that statistically explained the timing of discharges. The data were subsequently used to develop a prediction model of unplanned hospital readmissions. Comparison of discharge behaviors versus the predictive readmission model suggested important discordance with certain clinical measures not being accounted for to optimize discharges. We suggest that decision-support tools for discharge may utilize variables that are not routinely considered by healthcare providers.

This thesis focuses on the legal regulation of selected aspects of the personal data protection at the European level. Fuelled by the technological progress, this area of legal regulation is becoming increasingly important, as the usage of personal data can be source of both innovation and economic progress, but it also has the potential to negatively impact individuals` rights ("chilling effect"). The thesis analyses the usage of big data and automated individual decision making; both phenomena are assessed through principles contained in GDPR. The aim of the thesis is to, as far as these two phenomena are concerned, evaluate functionality and perspectives of the European regulation. The thesis is, apart from the introduction and the conclusion, divided into three chapters. The first part briefly introduces the concept of the right to the protection of personal data and the fundamental legal framework of the European regulation. This chapter is followed by a chapter focused on the big data, in which, after a necessary technical introduction is made, current practices of data controllers are contrasted with corresponding principles of data protection regulation. Particular attention is also paid to the pitfalls of anonymization. At the end of this chapter, it is concluded that all relevant...

La tesis engloba un estudio sobre preferencias económicas, en concreto, preferencias individuales bajo Riesgo, Riesgo Compuesto y Ambigüedad. Este trabajo muestra la evidencia de un experimento de laboratorio en el que los individuos se enfrentan a una incertidumbre creciente (Riesgo/Riesgo compuesto/Ambigüedad) en tres dimensiones diferentes: probabilidades, pagos y tiempo. Se obtiene el Equivalente Cierto del Valor Presente (PVCE) de 36 loterías con tres fechas de pago diferentes para cada sujeto, y se atribuyen a las condiciones de tratamiento las diferencias entre esos PVCE. Utilizando pruebas no paramétricas y regresiones de efectos aleatorios, la evidencia muestra una notable heterogeneidad en el comportamiento de los individuos según la dimensión afectada por la incertidumbre. En concreto, si bien confirmamos la amplia evidencia sobre la aversión a la Ambigüedad en las probabilidades, encontramos que este efecto prácticamente desaparece cuando las dimensiones de incertidumbre son los pagos y, aún más, el tiempo. Para el caso del Riesgo Compuesto, los resultados encontrados van en la misma línea. Además, se encuentra heterogeneidad en cuanto al comportamiento bajo Riesgo. / Esta tesis ha sido elaborada gracias a la financiación de la Generalitat Valenciana (SEJI/2019/005 y Research Project Group 3/086).

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Beslut angående finansiella investeringar sker för den enskilde individen likaväl som i företag. Besluten följer den finansiella världens utveckling och blir därmed alltmer komplexa. Placeringar av monetära tillgångar med förväntan att generera inkomst eller värdestegring innebär en risk. Risknivån på investeringen beror på investeringsbeteendet hos beslutsfattaren som kan ge konsekvenser på den finansiella marknaden och kan så småningom leda till finanskriser om ett överdrivet behov av risk uppstår hos beslutsfattare. Genom att studera vad som påverkar risktolerans öppnas dörrar för att kunna förstå vad som ligger bakom vilken risk som väljs vid en finansiell investering. När förändring i risktolerans studeras tas hänsyn till vilka sorters beslutsfattare som finns på den finansiella marknaden. I uppsatsen studeras risktolerans hos beslutsfattare i form av enskilda individer och grupper med syftet att testa hur risktoleransen förändras om en individ tar ett beslut enskilt eller i samråd med andra. I syftet ingår också att studera om kompositionen av en grupp med hjälp av variation i gruppstorlek och könsfördelning kan påverka gruppens risktolerans. Tidigare forskning indikerar att grupper har högre risktolerans än individer dock finns studier med omvänd syn. Studien i uppsatsen har skett genom kvantitativa experiment där respondenter enskilt och i sammansatta grupper svarat på olika frågeformulär. Av studien finnes resultat att män är mer risktoleranta än kvinnor. Emellertid visades inget signifikant resultat att en högre andel män i en grupp ökar risktoleransen i gruppen. Vid en storleksjämförelse visades ingen signifikant påverkan i risktoleransen av gruppens storlek. Sammanfattningsvis påvisades i ett av studiens test att grupper har högre risktolerans än individer medan två andra inte resulterade i en signifikant skillnad mellan dem. Uppsatsens primära begränsningar är mängden grupper som deltog i experimentet som vid ett högre antal hade kunnat ge mer precisa resultat samt att utbildningsnivån bland respondenterna var konstant vilket enligt tidigare forskning kan ge en försvagning av könseffekten vid mätning av risktolerans. Tidigare forskning om risktolerans har mestadels skett om individer och forskning om grupper är begränsad. På grund av det ger vår studie ett bidrag i form av en återuppväckande syn på risktolerans med ett nytt perspektiv om gruppstorlek som förändringsfaktor samt förslag till vidare forskning inom risktolerans. / Individuals as well as corporations make financial decisions regarding investments. Financial decisions advances along with the development of the financial world and thereby continuously increase in their complexity. A monetary investment regarding expectations of generating income involves risk. The level of risk depends on the decision maker’s financial behavior which could cause impacts in the financial market and may eventually be a reason for financial crises to arise, in case the decision maker has an excessive need to take risk. Studying which factors that affect risk tolerance contributes to an understanding of why a certain risk level is chosen when making a financial investment. When studying risk tolerance it has to be taking into account who is the decision maker. This dissertation studies risk tolerance of individuals and groups as two different decision makers, with the purpose of testing how the risk tolerance shifts if the decision is made either alone or in consultation with others. The purpose also includes studies on different compositions of a group regarding to gender and the size of the group and how this might affect the risk tolerance within the group. Previous research indicates that groups have a higher risk tolerance in comparison to individuals, there are however studies with opposite findings. The quantitative study in this dissertation was done by two experiments where respondents were handed questionnaires to be answered first individually and then together after being divided into groups. The results showed that men have a higher risk tolerance than women. However, there was no significant result that a higher proportion of males in a group increase the risk tolerance. When comparing small and large groups no difference was found in the level of risk tolerance. In conclusion, one of the tests in the study showed that groups have a higher risk tolerance than individuals however two tests showed a non-significant result in the difference between them. The limitations of the dissertation are the low participation in the group experiment where a higher number of groups would have been able to provide more accurate results and that respondents had a constant level of education which may have caused a lower effect of gender. Previous research has mostly focused on individuals and according to this our dissertation provides a contribution through how group size can influence risk tolerance and we propose further research areas within groups and risk tolerance.

Die Arbeit basiert auf fünf Aufsätzen. In diesen wird über vier Experimentserien berichtet, die das individuelle Entscheidungsverhalten von Versuchspersonen in ähnlichen, aber verschieden komplexen Situationen erheben. Es wird ein experimentelles Szenario vorgestellt, mit dessen Hilfe Rückschlüsse auf das Sparverhalten gezogen werden können. Es werden stilisierte Fakten des Verhaltens realer Entscheider identifiziert, die sich in solchen Situationen wesentlich vom rationalen Verhalten des "homo oeconomicus" unterscheiden. Eine der Experimentserien wurde im Internet durchgeführt, wobei zusätzlich generelle Aspekte von Internetexperimenten untersucht werden. / This thesis is based on five studies. These studies report on the individual behavior of experimental subjects in four experiments. The experimental situations are similar, but differ in their complexity. With the introduced experimental setup, one can draw conclusions about savings behavior. Stylized facts about the behavior of real decision makers are identified, which differ in such situations substantially from the rational behavior of the "homo oeconomicus". One of the experiments was conducted via the Internet. In this part also general aspects of Internet experiments are investigated.

Diffusion of microgeneration technologies, particularly rooftop photovoltaic (PV), represents a key option in reducing emissions in the residential sector. This thesis uses a uniquely rich dataset from the burgeoning residential PV market in Texas to study the nature of the consumer’s decision-making process in the adoption of these technologies. Focusing on the financial metrics and the information decision makers use to base their decisions upon, I study how the leasing and buying models affect individual choices and, thereby, the adoption of capital-intensive energy technologies. Overall, the leasing model is found to more effectively address consumers’ informational requirements. Contrary to previous studies, buyers and lessees of PV are not found to substantially differ along socio-demographic variables, though they do differ significantly along cash availability, levels of environmental concern, and relative importance of financial aspects. Instead, the leasing model has opened up the residential PV market to a new, and potentially very large, consumer segment—those with a tight cash flow situation. / text

This thesis tries to identify what's at stake of normalized relations between the United States and Iran since the Iranian revolution in 1979. The thesis tries to find out what are the key issues behind the failed relations between these two countries from the American point of view in order to determine whether normalized relations between these two countries can ever be achieved. It elaborates on four key characteristics of individual level analysis of foreign policy decision making applied on three key Presidents involved in foreign policy making towards Iran since 1979.

Reflet du rapport des individus avec le pouvoir public, le droit de la procédure administrative non contentieuse a sensiblement évolué depuis quatre décennies, en France comme en Grèce. Cette évolution, rattachée dans les deux pays à des projets politiques et juridiques de réforme administrative, a pu nourrir la réflexion doctrinale sur l’avènement d’une « démocratie administrative ». Or, l’évolution des règles qui concernent en particulier la procédure d’édiction de décisions individuelles répond toujours à un problème juridique aussi classique que fondamental : celui de la protection des individus vis-à-vis du pouvoir unilatéral de l’administration, dont l’exercice intervient dans la sphère des droits et libertés substantiels. Pour l’exploration de la situation juridique des administrés dans la procédure administrative non contentieuse, la prise en compte de la fonction qu’accomplissent dans cette procédure les droits procéduraux des administrés paraît dès lors nécessaire. La contribution des droits procéduraux, et plus spécialement des droits d’être entendu et à la motivation, à la protection des droits individuels substantiels mis en jeu dans l’opération normatrice de l’administration s’avère être un étalon essentiel pour la détermination de la portée juridique des droits procéduraux en cause. La qualité de ces derniers comme instruments de protection individuelle permet en effet la compréhension cohérente de l’évolution des sources juridiques des droits d’être entendu et à la motivation, de la délimitation du domaine d’application de ces droits et du traitement réservé par les juges français et grec de l’excès de pouvoir aux hypothèses de violation des mêmes droits. / Reflection of the individuals’ relation to state power, law in the field of administrative procedures has significantly evolved during the last four decades in France and in Greece.This evolution, associated in both countries with political and normative projects aspiring to administrative reform, has largely alimented doctrinal debate on the establishment of an“administrative democracy”. However, the evolution of rules governing in particular individual decision making is also a response to a classic and fundamental legal problem, namely the protection of individuals against unilateral administrative intervention in the sphere of their substantive rights and liberties. The legal status of individuals during the elaboration of individual acts deserves therefore to be explored in view of the function accomplished by procedural rights -such as the right to hearing and to reason giving- in administrative procedures of such type. In fact, the contribution of procedural rights in the protection of substantive rights concerned by the individual decision making process turns out to be crucial for the treatment of procedural rights under French and Greek administrative law. More specifically, the quality of procedural rights as instruments of individual protection allows to coherently understand the evolution of their sources and scope as well as various aspects of judicial handling of their eventual violation by administrative bodies.