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Finite Memory and Dynamic Decision Problems

Project description

Understanding finite memory’s implications in economic decisions

Memory limitations are instrumental in individuals’ economic decisions. However, although memory limitations in the form of finite memory naturally arise in many aspects of economic life, formal economic models that incorporate the finite memory restriction are limited. The EU-funded Finite Memory project will explore the implications of finite memory for dynamic decision problems in choice theoretical and strategic economic contexts. These allow the market to obtain better predictions of consumers’ choices, unravel the observed equilibrium behaviour, and regulate markets to maximise social welfare. In addition, this understanding could provide new explanations for observed economic phenomena such as limited attention and price stickiness.

Objective

Memory limitations lie at the core of how agents store past information and make decisions. For example, consider a buyer choosing between two alternative brands of a good. In thinking about a brand, she may recall her past experiences, product reviews, or expert’s ratings, which induce a belief about the brand’s quality. In this process, the buyer may divide the quality scale into finitely many categories such as high, medium, and low. Then, she may switch from one brand to another only if her belief about a brand’s quality moves from one category to another. Although memory limitations in the form of finite memory naturally arise in many facets of economic life, formal economic models that incorporate the finite memory restriction are rather limited. The aim of this project is to understand the implications of finite memory for dynamic decision problems in both choice theoretical and strategic economic contexts. These implications are significant to reach out a wide range of objectives such as obtaining better predictions of consumer’s choices, unravelling the observed equilibrium behaviour, and regulating markets as to maximize social welfare. In addition, the results to be obtained can provide new explanations for observed economic phenomena such as limited attention and price stickiness.

The outgoing phase of this GF project is divided into two parts. This first part of the project aims at addressing a fundamental problem to expedite the use of finite memory model in economic applications. In the second part, I aim to examine how strategic pricing aspects of a dynamic duopoly (oligopoly) model. The goal in here is to incorporate memory limitations in the form of finite memory into a fundamental economic problem, and identify its effects.This GF project will be carried out in Princeton University under the supervision of Prof. Faruk Gul. I will then return to Bilkent University to improve my results for 12 months under the supervision of Prof. Semih Koray.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

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Coordinator

BILKENT UNIVERSITESI VAKIF
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 237 943,68
Address
ESKISEHIR YOLU 8 KM
06800 BILKENT ANKARA
Türkiye

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Region
Batı Anadolu Ankara Ankara
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 237 943,68

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