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case western reserve university

Justin Sydnor

 

 

Assistant Professor of Economics

Weatherhead School of Management
11119 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44106

 

Office Phone: 216-368-8845
Email: justin.sydnor@case.edu

 

I am an applied microeconomist specializing in behavioral economics. My interests are wide-ranging and eclectic and include the study of risk aversion and insurance choices, discrimination, and issues surrounding self-control and commitment. I received my Ph.D. in economics from U.C. Berkeley in 2006.

 
Working Papers
 

 

(Over)Insuring Modest Risks  [Revising to resubmit to American Economic Journal:  Applied Economics]

                 Here is a link to an earlier version of this paper that circulated under the title "Abundant Aversion to Moderate Risk: Evidence from Homeowners Insurance"

 

What's in a Picture? Evidence of Discrimination from Prosper.com  [Revising to resubmit to the Journal of Human Resources]
With Devin Pope

 

A New Perspective on Stereotypical Gender Differences in Test Scores   [Revising for a forthcoming issue of Journal of Economic Perspectives]
With Devin Pope

 

Implementing Anti-Discrimination Policies in Statistical Profiling Models  [Revising to resubmit to American Economic Journal: Economic Policy]
With Devin Pope

 

Inattention in the Used-Car Market  [Paper coming soon]
With Nicola Lacetera and  Devin Pope 

Abstract: Analyzing over 22 million wholesale used-car transactions, we document a puzzling pattern:  sale prices drop discontinuously as the odometer mileage on used cars crosses 10,000-mile thresholds.  A model of how inattentive consumers process information contained in large numbers can explain this pattern.  We obtain estimates for the inattention parameter in the model and investigate whether the inattention can be attributed to the final used-car customers, or the used-car salesmen who buy cars in the wholesale market.  The pattern appears to be driven, at least in part, by the final customers.  We discuss the significance of these results to the literature on inattention and suggest other settings where this type of inattention might matter. 

 

Digit Ratios (2D:4D) as Predictors of Risky Decision Making
With Robert Slonim and Ellen Garbarino

Abstract: Using an emerging measure of prenatal androgens, the ratio between the length of the second and fourth digits of the hand, we explore the biological basis of risk taking.  This 2D:4D ratio is a well-known sexually dimorphic marker, with men having lower ratios than women on average.  In both men and women the 2D:4D ratio is established in utero and is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estradiol.  We find that a lower 2D:4D ratio (i.e., signifying higher levels of in utero testosterone) predicts greater risk taking behavior for both men and women in a financially motivated risk-taking task, supporting a biological basis for risk taking behavior.

 

Work in Progress:

"Commitments and Incentives for Exercise: A Field Experiment" joint with Heather Royer and Mark Stehr.

 “Can Quality Cars be Produced in the U.S?  Evidence from Used Cars”  with Nicola Lacetera