Arbeitspapier

An experimental investigation into queueing behavior

We conduct an experiment meant to explore the factors driving customers' decisions in a queueing system. Under different time allowance conditions, the experimental subjects are asked to join one of two queues that differ in their length, server speed, and entry fee. We investigate some aspects of a queue on which subjects base their decision and what is the effect of time pressure on their decision criteria. We find that only a proportion of subjects behave rationally and use the relevant information efficiently. The size of this proportion increases when time limitation is relaxed. The rest of the subjects seem to adopt a rule of thumb that ignores the information on server speed and follows the shorter queue. Consequently, these subjects use less time than rational types when making their decisions. Furthermore, time pressure harms decision performance since the presence of time limitation stresses a great deal of subjects and causes them to use time inefficiently.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: Jena Economic Research Papers ; No. 2014-030

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual
Industrial Organization: General
Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models: Panel Data Models; Spatio-temporal Models
Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models: Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions
Thema
decision times
join the shortest queue
laboratory experiments
queues with entry fee

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Conte, Anna
Scarsini, Marco
Sürücü, Oktay
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics
(wo)
Jena
(wann)
2014

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:42 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Conte, Anna
  • Scarsini, Marco
  • Sürücü, Oktay
  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics

Entstanden

  • 2014

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