蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
The Power of Anecdotes
蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 640–645)
Abstract
Anecdotes pervade public discourse. In a sender-receiver framework, we formalize why anecdotes persuade even when an aggregate statistic鈥攔ather than individual cases鈥攊s what matters. A single anecdote reveals information about similar cases, shifting beliefs about the statistic through correlation. The optimal anecdote balances reach鈥攈ow correlated it is to other cases鈥攁gainst rarity鈥攈ow surprising good news would be. Optimal anecdote selection follows a two-stage procedure: First identify cases persuasive enough upon good news, then choose the case most likely to deliver such news. The sender's optimal, receiver's preferred, and most informative anecdotes can diverge markedly.Citation
Bardhi, Arjada, and Nina Bobkova. 2026. "The Power of Anecdotes." 蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings 116: 640–645. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261118Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness