Empirical essays on choices under stress, preferences and consumption

Abstract: This doctoral thesis consists of four self-contained chapters on different topics in Behavioural Economics.“The Impact of Stress on Risky Choice: Preference Shifts or Noise” examines whether risk preferences shift under stress, taking into account the possibility that more mistakes are made in decision-making under stress.“The Effect of Stress on Consumers’ Estimation of Food Consumption Levels: Evidence from a Lab Experiment” examines if consumers overestimate their food consumption levels under stress, which could lead to food waste.“The digit ratio (2D:4D) and economic preferences: no robust associations in a sample of 330 women” examines the effect of the digit ratio on economic preferences with an aim to replicate previous studies.“Pregnancy and Alcohol Purchases: Evidence from Scanner Data” examines how households adjust their alcohol purchases and fruit and vegetable purchases from before, to during and after pregnancy.