1. Magnitude Observables
Within Choice, Magnitude observables are:
- Scalar
- Agent-specific
- Behaviorally revealed
- Non-relational
- Non-normative
If an observable:
- Requires another agent
- Refers to structure, information, constraint, or evaluation
- Aggregates across agents
→ it is not a magnitude observable in Choice.
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Value Type | Value | Reference Domain | Measurement Context | Bounds / Admissible Range | Resolution / Precision | Normalization / Baseline | Aggregation Rule | Measurement Method / Instrument | Uncertainty / Error Characterization | Revision / Update Status | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Binary choice outcomes (A chosen over B) | Level | {A,B} | Single entity | Timepoint | {A,B} | 1 choice | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Error rate / noise | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Choice frequencies across repeated trials | Density / Intensity | Count(A)/N | Single entity | Interval | [0,1] | 1/N | N | Mean | Experimental protocol | Sampling variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Switching points between options | Level | Threshold value | Single entity | Interval | Menu bounds | Menu step | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Interval uncertainty | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Indifference points | Level | Equality point | Single entity | Interval | Comparison bounds | Step size | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Interval uncertainty | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Reservation prices | Level | Price threshold | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Price step | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Response variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Willingness-to-pay | Level | Max payment | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Price step | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Response variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Willingness-to-accept | Level | Min compensation | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Price step | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Response variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Acceptance / rejection at given prices | Level | {0,1} | Single entity | Timepoint | {0,1} | 1 decision | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Error rate / noise | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Bid amounts in auctions | Level | Bid value | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Price step | NULL | NULL | Experimental protocol | Bid variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Choice probabilities (stochastic choice) | Density / Intensity | p(A) | Single entity | Interval | [0,1] | 1/N | Sum=1 | Mean | Experimental protocol | Sampling variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Elasticity of choice with respect to price or attributes | Density / Intensity | Elasticity value | Single entity | Experimental condition | Unbounded (ℝ) | Finite difference step | NULL | NULL | Choice variation protocol | Estimation error | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Revealed marginal rates of substitution | Density / Intensity | MRS value | Single entity | Experimental condition | Positive real values | Menu step size | NULL | NULL | Revealed-preference task | Interval uncertainty | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Compensating variation (revealed) | Level | Compensation amount | Single entity | Experimental condition | ≥ 0 | Smallest price increment | NULL | NULL | Revealed-preference elicitation | Response variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Equivalent variation (revealed) | Level | Compensation amount | Single entity | Experimental condition | ≥ 0 | Smallest price increment | NULL | NULL | Revealed-preference elicitation | Response variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Delay tolerance thresholds (when preference strength trades off with time) | Level | Delay threshold | Single entity | Experimental condition | ≥ 0 | Time-step resolution | NULL | NULL | Time–choice tradeoff task | Interval uncertainty | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Intensity of preference | Risk premia implied by lottery choices | Level | Risk premium value | Single entity | Experimental condition | ℝ (typically ≥ 0) | Smallest payoff difference | NULL | NULL | Lottery-choice protocol | Estimation error | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Income received | Period-total | Income amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | Sum | Administrative record | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Cash-on-hand | Level | Cash amount | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Account balance observation | Measurement noise | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Wealth level | Level | Net worth value | Single entity | Timepoint | ℝ | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Balance-sheet construction | Valuation error | Final | Derived |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Asset balances | Level | Asset value | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Account records | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Debt balances | Level | Debt amount | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Account records | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Credit limits | Level | Credit limit value | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Lender records | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Endowed quantities of goods | Level | Quantity endowed | Single entity | Experimental condition | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | NULL | Experimental assignment | Assignment error | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Initial endowments | Level | Endowment quantity | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | NULL | Initial condition record | Recording error | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Time available per period | Period-total | Time amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest time unit | NULL | NULL | Time-budget accounting | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Hours available for work or action | Period-total | Time amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest time unit | NULL | NULL | Time-budget accounting | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Budget size | Level | Budget amount | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Budget record | Recording error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Allowances or transfers received | Period-total | Transfer amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | Sum | Administrative record | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Resource quantity | Stored inventory owned by the agent | Level | Inventory quantity | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | NULL | Inventory record | Counting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Quantity consumed | Period-total | Quantity amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | Sum | Consumption record | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Consumption bundles | Level | Bundle vector | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 for all components | Smallest quantity unit per good | NULL | NULL | Consumption record | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Monetary payoff received | Level | Payoff amount | Single entity | Timepoint | ℝ (typically ≥ 0) | Smallest currency increment | NULL | NULL | Payment record | Recording error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Physical output produced | Period-total | Output quantity | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | Sum | Production record | Measurement error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Units of goods obtained | Period-total | Quantity obtained | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | Sum | Transaction record | Counting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Time delays realized | Level | Delay duration | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest time unit | NULL | NULL | Experimental timing record | Timing error | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Duration of outcomes | Period-total | Duration amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest time unit | NULL | Sum | Timing record | Timing error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Effort expended (proxied by hours, energy use) | Period-total | Effort amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest proxy unit | NULL | Sum | Time / energy logging | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Financial return realized | Period-total | Return amount | Single entity | Interval | ℝ | Smallest currency increment | NULL | Sum | Financial record | Valuation error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Losses incurred | Period-total | Loss amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | Sum | Financial record | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Gains realized | Period-total | Gain amount | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest currency increment | NULL | Sum | Financial record | Reporting error | Final | Administrative |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Payoff realizations from lotteries | Level | Realized payoff | Single entity | Timepoint | ℝ | Smallest payoff increment | NULL | NULL | Lottery outcome record | Random draw variance | Final | Experimental |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Consumption level after choice | Level | Consumption quantity | Single entity | Timepoint | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | NULL | Consumption record | Reporting error | Final | Observational |
| Magnitude | Outcome magnitude | Resource depletion amount | Period-total | Depleted quantity | Single entity | Interval | ≥ 0 | Smallest quantity unit | NULL | Sum | Resource accounting record | Measurement error | Final | Observational |
2. Structure Observables
Within Choice, Structure observables are:
- Relational, not scalar
- Internal to a single agent
- About arrangement, not amount
- Static at the moment of choice
If an observable:
- Evolves over time → Dynamics
- Involves another agent → Interaction
- Quantifies intensity → Magnitude
- Encodes uncertainty numerically → Information
→ it does not belong here.
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Elements | Relations | Configuration / Pattern Type | Topology | Dimensionality | Symmetry / Invariants | Hierarchy / Nesting | Role Labels | Ordering / Sequence Rule | Embedding / Representation Space | Structural Constraints | Granularity Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Preference ordering | Binary choice relations (A chosen over B) | Options {A,B} | Binary dominance relation | Pairwise relation | Two-node directed relation | 1D (pairwise) | Antisymmetry | None | Preferred, non-preferred | Linear (pairwise) | Abstract choice set | Exactly one relation per pair | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Revealed preference relations | Options | Revealed dominance relations | Directed graph | Connectivity via revealed edges | n-dimensional | Transitivity (if present) | None | Dominant, dominated | Partial order | Abstract choice space | No self-loops | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Choice rankings over finite menus | Menu options | Ordering relations | Total or partial order | Chain or DAG | 1D ordering | Order invariance under relabeling | None | Rank positions | Linear or partial order | Abstract ordering space | Completeness (if total) | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Pairwise comparison outcomes | Option pairs | Comparison relations | Set of pairwise relations | Disconnected or connected pairs | 1D (per pair) | Antisymmetry | None | Winner, loser | Pairwise order | Abstract comparison space | One outcome per pair | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Cyclic vs acyclic choice patterns | Options | Cyclic dominance relations | Directed cycle or DAG | Cycles vs no-cycle connectivity | n-dimensional | Cycle presence / absence | None | Cycle member, terminal | Cyclic or acyclic | Graph representation space | Admissible cycle structure | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Violations or satisfaction of: WARP | Options | Pairwise revealed preference relations | Directed graph with consistency check | Presence/absence of 2-cycle | n-dimensional | Antisymmetry (required) | None | Preferred, violated | Partial order | Abstract revealed-preference graph | No mutual dominance allowed | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Violations or satisfaction of: GARP | Options | Indirect revealed preference relations | Directed graph with path consistency | Cycle detection in transitive closure | n-dimensional | Acyclicity (required) | None | Path-consistent, violating | Partial order | Abstract revealed-preference graph | No cycles in transitive closure | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Violations or satisfaction of: SARP | Options | Strict revealed preference relations | Strict directed graph | No directed cycles | n-dimensional | Strict acyclicity | None | Strictly preferred | Strict order | Abstract strict-preference graph | No weak ties or cycles | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Dominance relations | Options | Componentwise dominance relations | Partial order | DAG | n-dimensional | Transitivity, antisymmetry | None | Dominant, dominated | Partial order | Attribute-comparison space | No self-dominance | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Lexicographic choice patterns | Options, attributes | Priority-based comparison relations | Lexicographic order | Ordered layers | n-dimensional | Priority invariance | Layered | Primary, secondary, etc. | Hierarchical order | Attribute-priority space | Fixed priority sequence | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Tie / indifference observations | Options | Equivalence relations | Equivalence classes | Disjoint components | n-dimensional | Reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity | None | Indifferent elements | Unordered within class | Abstract choice space | Equivalence consistency | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Menu-dependent ranking stability | Options, menus | Ranking correspondence across menus | Menu-indexed orders | Cross-menu mapping | n-dimensional | Invariance under menu restriction (if present) | None | Stable, unstable | Conditional order | Menu-indexed ordering space | Consistency across overlapping menus | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Context-independent ordering behavior | Options | Ordering relations | Context-invariant order | Single connected order | n-dimensional | Order invariance across contexts | None | Ordered elements | Fixed order | Abstract ordering space | Same order across contexts | Micro |
| Structure | Preference ordering | Revealed weak vs strict preference distinctions | Options | Weak and strict relations | Layered partial order | Nested relations | n-dimensional | Weak–strict consistency | Layered | Weakly preferred, strictly preferred | Partial order with tiers | Abstract preference space | Strict ⊂ weak | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Budget sets | Feasible bundles | Feasibility relations | Convex set (typical) | Connected region | n-dimensional (goods space) | Convexity (if present) | None | Feasible, infeasible | Unordered | Commodity space | Boundary-defined admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Price vectors faced by the agent | Goods, prices | Association of goods to price coordinates | Vector configuration | Product topology | n-dimensional | Coordinate permutation invariance | None | Price coordinate | Unordered | Price space | Fixed dimensionality | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Opportunity frontiers | Feasible bundles | Boundary relations | Frontier surface | Boundary topology | n-dimensional | Boundary invariance | None | Boundary, interior | Unordered | Commodity space | Frontier admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Available action menus | Actions | Inclusion relations | Finite or infinite set | Discrete or connected | n-dimensional | Set invariance | None | Available, unavailable | Unordered | Action space | Membership admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Consumption possibility sets | Bundles | Feasibility relations | Set geometry | Connected region | n-dimensional | Feasibility invariance | None | Feasible, infeasible | Unordered | Commodity space | Set admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Discrete vs continuous choice sets | Options | Adjacency relations | Discrete set or continuum | Disconnected vs connected | n-dimensional | Topological class | None | Discrete, continuous | Unordered | Choice space | Cardinality restriction | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Corner solutions observed | Feasible bundles | Boundary membership relations | Extreme-point configuration | Vertex topology | n-dimensional | Boundary invariance | None | Corner, non-corner | Unordered | Commodity space | Extreme-point admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Interior solutions observed | Feasible bundles | Interior membership relations | Interior-point configuration | Open-set topology | n-dimensional | Interior invariance | None | Interior, boundary | Unordered | Commodity space | Interior admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Binding vs non-binding constraint realizations | Feasible sets, boundaries | Boundary contact relations | Boundary-touching classification | Boundary vs interior | n-dimensional | Contact invariance | None | Binding, non-binding | Unordered | Feasible-set geometry | Boundary contact requirement | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Changes in feasible sets after exogenous shocks | Feasible sets | Set-inclusion relations across states | Set expansion / contraction pattern | Nested-set topology | n-dimensional | Set-mapping invariance | Nested | Pre-shock, post-shock | Unordered | Commodity space | Admissible set transformation | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Availability / stock constraints | Goods, quantities | Availability relations | Bounded-set geometry | Truncated region | n-dimensional | Upper-bound invariance | None | Available, unavailable | Unordered | Commodity space | Upper-bound admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Menu expansion or contraction | Menus, options | Set-inclusion relations | Nested-set pattern | Inclusion topology | n-dimensional | Inclusion invariance | Nested | Expanded, contracted | Unordered | Menu space | Admissible membership | Micro |
| Structure | Feasible set geometry | Technological menus available to the agent | Technologies, actions | Feasibility relations | Feasible-action set | Connected or discrete | n-dimensional | Feasibility invariance | None | Available, unavailable | Unordered | Action/technology space | Technological admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Signals received before choice | Signals, states | Partition relations | Information partition | Disjoint cells | n-dimensional | Partition invariance | None | Signal cell | Unordered | Information space | Mutual exclusivity | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Timing of information arrival | Information stages | Precedence relations | Ordered stages | Linear order | 1D (stage order) | Order invariance | Layered | Early, late | Fixed sequence | Temporal-stage space | Stage admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Information disclosure events | Messages, recipients | Disclosure relations | Event-partition structure | Event-node connectivity | n-dimensional | Disclosure invariance | None | Disclosed, undisclosed | Unordered | Information-event space | Disclosure admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Choice differences across information conditions | Choices, information conditions | Condition–choice correspondence | Condition-indexed mapping | Disjoint condition domains | n-dimensional | Mapping invariance | None | Condition-specific choice | Unordered | Condition–choice space | One choice per condition | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | State-contingent actions | States, actions | State–action assignment | Contingency mapping | Partition-aligned mapping | n-dimensional | State-label invariance | None | Action per state | Unordered | State–action space | Exactly one action per state | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Observed inability to distinguish states (pooling behavior) | States | Equivalence relations | Coarsened partition | Merged cells | n-dimensional | Indistinguishability invariance | Nested | Pooled states | Unordered | Information partition space | Cell merging admissibility | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Observed state differentiation (separating behavior) | States | Distinct-cell relations | Refined partition | Fully separated cells | n-dimensional | Distinguishability invariance | Nested | Separate states | Unordered | Information partition space | One state per cell | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Menu choices conditional on signals | Menus, signals | Signal–menu correspondence | Signal-indexed menu mapping | Disjoint signal domains | n-dimensional | Signal-label invariance | None | Menu per signal | Unordered | Signal–menu space | One menu per signal | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Revelation vs concealment treatments | Information items, agents | Disclosure relations | Binary disclosure partition | Disjoint visible/hidden cells | n-dimensional | Disclosure-status invariance | None | Revealed, concealed | Unordered | Information space | Mutual exclusivity | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Coarse vs fine information environments | States | Partition refinement relations | Coarse–fine partition lattice | Nested partitions | n-dimensional | Refinement invariance | Nested | Coarse cell, fine cell | Unordered | State space | Admissible refinement | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Experimental information treatments | Treatments, signals | Assignment relations | Treatment–signal partition | Disjoint treatment cells | n-dimensional | Treatment-label invariance | None | Treatment group | Unordered | Experimental information space | One signal structure per treatment | Micro |
| Structure | Information partition | Attention-constrained menus (what is seen vs unseen) | Options | Visibility relations | Visibility partition | Seen/unseen cells | n-dimensional | Visibility-status invariance | None | Visible, hidden | Unordered | Perceptual choice space | Limited visibility admissibility | Micro |
3. Dynamics Observables
Every item listed:
- Is directly observable
- Involves only one agent
- Requires no formal representation
- Is temporal, not structural
- Is non-strategic
If something:
- Requires probabilities → Information
- Requires equations → Method
- Requires other agents → Interaction
- Collapses time → Structure
…it does not belong here.
SAT – Evidence – Observables – Dynamics – Choice (Microeconomic Foundations)
| Property Category | Property | Observable | State Variable | Time Parameter | Rate / Rule of Change | Direction of Change | Trajectory / Path | Timescale | Regime / Stability Class | Initial Condition | Terminal / Attractor State | Lag / Inertia | Perturbation Sensitivity | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Sequences of choices over time | Choice state | Discrete decision periods | Transition rule between choices | Bidirectional | State sequence | Decision-to-decision | Stable or switching | Initial choice | Recurrent or absorbing choice | Decision inertia | Local sensitivity to perturbations | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Consumption paths | Consumption level | Continuous or discrete time | Difference / update rule | Increasing, decreasing, or oscillatory | Time series | Short-to-medium term | Stable or cyclical | Initial consumption | Steady level or cycle | Adjustment lag | Local sensitivity | Reversible (approx.) |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Asset accumulation or depletion over time | Asset level | Continuous or discrete time | Accumulation / depletion equation | Increasing or decreasing | Time series | Long-term | Stable or divergent | Initial asset stock | Steady state or boundary | Strong inertia | Low to moderate sensitivity | Partially irreversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Savings vs spending trajectories | Savings share / spending level | Discrete periods | Budget update rule | Bidirectional | Path in savings–spending space | Medium-term | Stable or oscillatory | Initial allocation | Steady allocation | Adjustment lag | Moderate sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | State-contingent actions by the same agent | Action state | Event-indexed time | Contingent transition rule | Conditional | Branching state paths | Event-driven | Conditional regimes | Initial state | State-specific attractors | Conditional lag | High sensitivity to state changes | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Changes in chosen bundles across periods | Bundle choice state | Discrete periods | Transition rule between bundles | Bidirectional | Bundle sequence | Period-to-period | Switching or stable | Initial bundle | Recurrent bundle or cycle | Choice inertia | Local sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Habit persistence in choices | Choice propensity state | Discrete periods | Reinforcement update rule | Directional persistence | Slowly evolving path | Long-term | Metastable | Initial habit state | Habitual steady state | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Partially irreversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Switching behavior across time | Choice state | Discrete periods | Switching transition rule | Bidirectional | Alternating state path | Short-term | Unstable or switching | Initial choice | No fixed attractor | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Path dependence in decisions | Decision state | Discrete or event-indexed | History-dependent update rule | Conditional | History-dependent path | Medium-to-long term | Multiple basins | Initial decision | Path-specific attractor | Strong inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Irreversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Repeated selection of similar actions | Action choice state | Discrete periods | Persistence rule | Directional persistence | Clustered action path | Medium-term | Stable | Initial action | Recurrent action set | Moderate inertia | Low sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Changes in effort supplied across periods | Effort level state | Discrete periods | Effort adjustment rule | Increasing or decreasing | Effort time series | Medium-term | Stable or oscillatory | Initial effort level | Steady effort level | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Internal state evolution | Inventory drawdown or buildup | Inventory level state | Discrete or continuous time | Accumulation / depletion rule | Increasing or decreasing | Inventory path | Medium-to-long term | Stable or boundary-constrained | Initial inventory level | Steady level or exhaustion | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Partially irreversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Changes in choice behavior following own past outcomes | Choice policy state | Discrete periods | Outcome-based update rule | Directional adaptation | Adaptive path | Medium-term | Adaptive / metastable | Initial policy | Locally stable policy | Adjustment lag | Moderate sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Reduced choice variability over time | Choice variability state | Discrete periods | Variance-reduction rule | Decreasing | Convergent path | Medium-term | Convergent | Initial variability | Low-variability state | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Irreversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Increased consistency in repeated decisions | Consistency state | Discrete periods | Consistency reinforcement rule | Increasing | Convergent trajectory | Medium-term | Stable | Initial consistency | High-consistency attractor | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Trial-and-error behavior | Action-selection state | Discrete trials | Error-correction update rule | Bidirectional | Irregular exploratory path | Short-term | Adaptive / switching | Initial action | Locally stable action | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Exploration followed by exploitation | Exploration intensity state | Discrete periods | Decay-to-focus rule | Decreasing exploration | Two-phase trajectory | Medium-term | Phase-shifted | High-exploration start | Exploitative steady state | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Partially irreversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Abandonment of previously chosen options | Option-usage state | Discrete periods | Deactivation rule | Decreasing | Exit path | Medium-term | Absorbing (abandoned) | Initial option set | Reduced option set | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Irreversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Adoption of previously unchosen options | Option-usage state | Discrete periods | Activation rule | Increasing | Entry path | Medium-term | Expansive | Initial option set | Expanded option set | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Response to realized payoffs | Choice policy state | Discrete periods | Payoff-conditioned update rule | Directional adaptation | Feedback-driven path | Medium-term | Adaptive | Initial policy | Locally stable policy | Adjustment lag | High sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Adjustment after mistakes or losses | Choice policy state | Discrete periods | Error-driven update rule | Directional correction | Corrective path | Short-to-medium term | Adaptive | Initial policy | Locally stable policy | Moderate inertia | High sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Performance improvement across repetitions | Performance state | Discrete trials | Incremental improvement rule | Increasing | Convergent trajectory | Medium-term | Convergent | Initial performance | Performance plateau | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Partially irreversible |
| Dynamics | Learning within the agent | Experience-dependent switching rates | Switching propensity state | Discrete periods | Experience-conditioned update rule | Increasing or decreasing | Adaptive switching path | Medium-term | Adaptive | Initial propensity | Experience-stable level | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Choice between sooner vs later rewards | Temporal choice state | Event-indexed time | Intertemporal update rule | Conditional | Branching temporal path | Medium-term | Conditional | Initial temporal preference | Stable temporal pattern | Moderate inertia | High sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Delay acceptance or rejection | Delay tolerance state | Event-indexed time | Threshold-based update rule | Bidirectional | Threshold-crossing path | Medium-term | Switching | Initial tolerance | Accepted or rejected state | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Intertemporal consumption allocation | Consumption allocation state | Discrete periods | Intertemporal allocation update rule | Reallocation across periods | Allocation path | Medium-to-long term | Stable or adaptive | Initial allocation | Steady allocation pattern | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Saving vs immediate consumption decisions | Saving propensity state | Discrete periods | Allocation-switching rule | Bidirectional | Alternating or convergent path | Medium-term | Switching or stable | Initial propensity | Dominant allocation mode | Moderate inertia | High sensitivity | Path-dependent |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Early vs delayed payoff selection | Temporal choice state | Event-indexed time | Choice-update rule | Conditional | Branching temporal path | Medium-term | Conditional | Initial temporal choice | Stable selection pattern | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Preference reversals over time | Temporal preference state | Discrete periods | Reversal-trigger rule | Directional switching | Non-monotonic path | Medium-term | Unstable / switching | Initial preference | No fixed attractor | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Procrastination behavior | Action deferral state | Event-indexed time | Delay-extension rule | Increasing delay | Deferral path | Medium-term | Metastable | Initial deferral | Absorbing deferral state | High inertia | Low sensitivity | Irreversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Waiting behavior | Waiting tolerance state | Event-indexed time | Tolerance update rule | Increasing or decreasing | Tolerance path | Medium-term | Stable or metastable | Initial tolerance | Stable waiting level | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Drop-off rates as delay increases | Participation state | Continuous or discrete delay | Delay-dependent attrition rule | Decreasing participation | Monotone decay path | Short-to-medium term | Stable | Full participation | Absorbing drop-off | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Irreversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Front-loading vs back-loading of consumption | Consumption timing state | Discrete periods | Timing reallocation rule | Reallocation toward early or late | Timing-allocation path | Medium-term | Stable or switching | Initial timing pattern | Dominant timing pattern | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Partially reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Timing of effort exertion | Effort timing state | Event-indexed time | Timing-shift rule | Earlier or later effort | Effort-timing path | Short-to-medium term | Adaptive | Initial effort timing | Stable timing pattern | Low inertia | High sensitivity | Reversible |
| Dynamics | Discounting / time preference | Time-dependent switching points | Switching threshold state | Discrete periods | Threshold update rule | Directional shift | Moving-threshold path | Medium-term | Adaptive | Initial threshold | Stabilized threshold | Moderate inertia | Moderate sensitivity | Path-dependent |
4. Interaction Observables
Observable Set
There are no admissible observables.
- No interactions are observed
- No influence between agents is observed
- No strategic dependence is observed
- No feedback from others is observed
- No joint action is observed
Why the Observable Set Is Empty
An observable in Interaction would require:
- Another agent
- Mutual influence
- Strategic coupling
- Feedback loops
- Correlated decision-making
All of those violate the Choice domain axiom.
So the correct observable list is:
∅ (empty set)
Important Clarification (to prevent future drift)
- Observing prices does not imply interaction
(prices are taken as given in Choice) - Observing menus does not imply interaction
(menus are constraints, not agents) - Observing past outcomes does not imply interaction
(internal history ≠ interdependence)
The moment an observable requires another decision-maker, it exits Choice and enters Interaction (Markets, Strategy & Mechanisms).
SAT – Evidence – Observables – Interaction – Choice (Microeconomic Foundations)
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Source Entity | Target Entity | Directionality | Interaction Type | Coupling Strength | Sign / Polarity | Interaction Scope | Mediation Channel | Latency / Delay | Feedback Presence | Context Dependence | Stability of Interaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interaction | NONE (zero interdependence) | NONE (zero interdependence) |
5. Constraint Observables
Every item listed:
- Is directly observable
- Is agent-specific
- Is about limits, not preferences
- Does not require formal modeling
- Does not invoke other agents
If something:
- Requires mathematics → Method
- Requires tradeoff valuation → Evaluation
- Requires uncertainty → Information
- Requires another agent → Interaction
…it does not belong here.
SAT – Evidence – Observables – Constraint – Choice (Microeconomic Foundations)
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Constrained Entity / Variable | Constraint Type | Forbidden States | Permitted Region | Boundary Definition | Binding Status | Universality / Scope | Constraint Origin | Hardness | Tolerance / Slack | Interaction with Other Constraints | Enforcement Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Prices faced by the agent | Purchase configurations | Boundary | Expenditures exceeding price schedule | Expenditures consistent with prices | Price–quantity inequality | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with income constraint | Transaction infeasibility |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Income received | Consumption expenditure | Capacity | Spending beyond available income | Spending ≤ income | Income cap | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with prices and transfers | Accounting inconsistency |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Transfers received | Available spending | Capacity | Spending excluding transfers | Spending including transfers | Transfer-adjusted income bound | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with income constraint | Accounting inconsistency |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Taxes paid | Net disposable income | Boundary | Spending ignoring tax obligations | Post-tax spending set | Tax-adjusted income inequality | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with income and transfer constraints | Rule breach detection |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Fees paid | Net expenditure capacity | Boundary | Spending ignoring mandatory fees | Fee-adjusted spending set | Fee-adjusted budget inequality | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with prices and taxes | Rule breach detection |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Credit limits | Expenditure configuration | Capacity | Spending beyond credit ceiling | Spending ≤ credit limit | Credit ceiling inequality | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with income constraint | Accounting inconsistency |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Cash-on-hand | Immediate spending actions | Capacity | Purchases exceeding available cash | Purchases ≤ cash-on-hand | Cash balance threshold | Conditional | Local | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with price constraint | Transaction infeasibility |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Binding vs non-binding budget outcomes (revealed) | Choice configurations | Admissibility | Choices outside feasible set | Choices within feasible set | Budget boundary contact | Conditional | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Combined with prices/income | Feasibility violation |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Foregone options due to insufficient resources | Option availability | Exclusivity | Resource-infeasible options | Resource-feasible options | Budget exclusion boundary | Binding | Local | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with budget set | Option infeasibility |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Rejected choices due to lack of funds | Action selection | Admissibility | Actions requiring unavailable funds | Fund-feasible actions | Budget admissibility edge | Binding | Local | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with cash and credit | Transaction rejection |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Corner solutions caused by budget exhaustion | Choice configuration | Boundary | Interior choices beyond budget | Boundary-feasible choices | Budget exhaustion boundary | Binding | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with price constraints | Feasibility violation |
| Constraint | Budget constraint | Partial purchases due to insufficient budget | Purchase action | Capacity | Full purchase beyond budget | Partial purchase within budget | Residual-budget threshold | Binding | Local | Institutional | Hard | Limited (discrete divisibility) | Nested with price and cash constraints | Transaction infeasibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Actions available to the agent | Action set | Admissibility | Actions not supported by technology | Technologically feasible actions | Feasibility domain edge | Non-binding | Context-specific | Physical / Institutional | Hard | None | Independent or nested | Logical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Actions unavailable to the agent | Action set | Exclusivity | Technologically infeasible actions | Supported actions only | Feasibility exclusion boundary | Binding | Universal (given tech) | Physical / Institutional | Hard | None | Independent | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Successful vs failed attempts | Action execution | Admissibility | Failed executions | Successful executions | Execution feasibility boundary | Conditional | Local | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with action availability | Execution failure detection |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Maximum producible quantities | Output configuration | Capacity | Output beyond technical maximum | Output ≤ technical maximum | Capacity ceiling | Binding | Context-specific | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with input constraints | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Conversion limits (inputs → outputs, observed) | Input–output mappings | Conservation | Output without required inputs | Technically feasible conversions | Conversion feasibility surface | Binding | Context-specific | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with input availability | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Capability ceilings | Action performance state | Capacity | Actions exceeding capability | Capability-feasible actions | Capability threshold | Binding | Context-specific | Physical | Hard | None | Independent or nested | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Discrete vs continuous action availability | Action space | Admissibility | Non-supported action forms | Supported discrete/continuous actions | Action-space topology edge | Non-binding | Context-specific | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Logical inconsistency |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Required inputs for outcomes (observed) | Outcome realization | Admissibility | Outcomes without prerequisite inputs | Input-supported outcomes | Input requirement boundary | Binding | Context-specific | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with budget and tech | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Infeasible outcomes never realized | Outcome realizations | Admissibility | Technologically impossible outcomes | Technically feasible outcomes | Feasibility exclusion boundary | Binding | Universal (given technology) | Physical | Hard | None | Independent | Physical impossibility |
| Constraint | Technological constraint | Tool or method availability | Action execution | Admissibility | Actions requiring unavailable tools | Tool-supported actions | Tool-availability boundary | Binding | Context-specific | Physical / Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with capability constraints | Execution impossibility |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Time available per period | Action scheduling | Capacity | Actions exceeding time endowment | Time-feasible schedules | Time-budget ceiling | Binding | Universal (per period) | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with action constraints | Scheduling infeasibility |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Duration of actions | Action execution | Boundary | Actions exceeding allowable duration | Duration-feasible actions | Duration threshold | Conditional | Context-specific | Physical | Hard | Limited | Nested with deadlines | Timeout recognition |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Deadlines faced | Action completion | Boundary | Actions completed after deadline | On-time completions | Deadline cutoff | Binding | Context-specific | Institutional / Physical | Hard | None | Nested with duration and time budgets | Deadline violation |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Waiting times | Action initiation | Boundary | Initiation before waiting requirement | Initiation after required wait | Minimum-wait threshold | Conditional | Context-specific | Physical / Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with deadlines | Early-action detection |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Time spent on activities | Activity allocation | Capacity | Allocations exceeding time budget | Time-feasible allocations | Time-budget ceiling | Binding | Universal (per period) | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with action sequencing | Scheduling infeasibility |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Actions foregone due to lack of time | Action selection | Exclusivity | Actions requiring unavailable time | Time-feasible actions | Time-availability boundary | Binding | Local | Physical | Hard | None | Nested with time budget | Inability to schedule |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Sequencing imposed by time limits | Action order | Ordering | Orders violating time precedence | Time-consistent sequences | Precedence constraint | Binding | Context-specific | Physical / Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with duration constraints | Order violation |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Missed opportunities due to delay | Opportunity access | Boundary | Opportunities accessed after expiry | Timely access set | Opportunity-expiry cutoff | Binding | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with waiting and deadlines | Expiry recognition |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Truncated actions caused by time limits | Action execution | Boundary | Completion beyond time limit | Partial or completed actions within limit | Time cutoff | Binding | Context-specific | Physical / Institutional | Hard | Limited | Nested with duration constraints | Timeout detection |
| Constraint | Time constraint | Horizon endpoints (last feasible period) | Action scheduling | Boundary | Actions initiated after horizon | Actions within horizon | Horizon endpoint | Binding | Context-specific | Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with time budget | Period-expiry recognition |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Actions never taken because impossible | Action space | Admissibility | Physically or logically impossible actions | Feasible actions only | Feasibility exclusion boundary | Binding | Universal | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Impossibility recognition |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Attempted actions that fail | Action execution | Admissibility | Failed executions | Successful executions | Execution feasibility boundary | Conditional | Context-specific | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Nested with capability constraints | Failure detection |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Physical impossibility events | Outcome realization | Admissibility | Impossible outcomes | Physically realizable outcomes | Physical feasibility boundary | Binding | Universal | Physical | Hard | None | Independent | Physical impossibility detection |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Logical exclusions (mutually exclusive actions) | Action combinations | Exclusivity | Joint execution of exclusive actions | Non-conflicting action sets | Mutual-exclusion boundary | Binding | Universal | Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Logical inconsistency |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Hard prohibitions (cannot co-occur) | Action configurations | Prohibition | Prohibited co-occurring actions | Allowed configurations | Prohibition boundary | Binding | Universal | Institutional / Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Rule violation detection |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Domain exclusions (action not in menu) | Action selection | Admissibility | Actions outside domain/menu | Menu-contained actions | Domain boundary | Binding | Context-specific | Logical / Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with menu constraints | Invalid-selection detection |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Binary feasibility outcomes (possible / impossible) | Action feasibility state | Admissibility | Impossible actions | Possible actions | Feasibility partition | Binding | Universal | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Feasibility check |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Observed impossibility boundaries | State or action space | Boundary | States beyond feasible limit | Feasible region | Impossibility boundary | Binding | Universal | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Independent | Boundary violation |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Failed execution attempts | Action execution | Admissibility | Failed executions | Successful executions | Execution feasibility boundary | Conditional | Context-specific | Physical / Logical | Hard | None | Nested with capability constraints | Failure detection |
| Constraint | Physical or logical feasibility | Invalid action selections rejected by the environment | Action selection | Admissibility | Invalid selections | Valid selections | Validity boundary | Binding | Context-specific | Logical / Institutional | Hard | None | Nested with domain constraints | Rejection signal |
6. Information Observables
Every item listed:
- Is directly observable
- Refers to a single agent
- Requires no numerical belief representation
- Does not involve other agents
- Is informational, not evaluative
If something:
- Assigns numerical likelihoods → Method
- Optimizes over risk → Evaluation
- Evolves beliefs formally → Dynamics
- Requires another agent → Interaction
…it does not belong here.
SAT – Evidence – Observables – Information – Choice (Microeconomic Foundations)
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Information Content | Carrier / Medium | Uncertainty | Resolution / Granularity | Signal vs Noise Distinction | Observability / Accessibility | Encoding Scheme | Update / Learning Rule | Predictive Power | Complexity Measure | Redundancy / Correlation | Definability / Expressibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | Beliefs about states | Choices contingent on different realized states | State–action distinctions | Internal belief representation | Ambiguity over state realization | Discrete state distinctions | State signals vs irrelevant variation | Partially observable | State–action mapping | Evidence-conditioned revision | Predictive of action under state | Moderate description length | Correlated across states | Definable within state space |
| Information | Beliefs about states | State-contingent actions | Mapping from states to actions | Internal belief representation | Uncertainty over state identity | State-level granularity | State signal vs noise | Partially observable | Contingency mapping | Conditional updating | Predictive of chosen action | Moderate | Redundant across similar states | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Betting behavior | Subjective likelihood distinctions | Internal belief representation | Probabilistic uncertainty | Outcome-level granularity | Outcome signal vs randomness | Observable via choice | Probability encoding | Outcome-based update | Predictive of beliefs | Moderate | Correlated with related bets | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Insurance purchase or non-purchase | Loss-state likelihood distinctions | Internal belief representation | Risk uncertainty | Binary loss/no-loss | Loss signal vs background risk | Observable via choice | Binary threshold encoding | Experience-based update | Predictive of loss belief | Low | Correlated with other risk choices | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Portfolio allocation choices | Beliefs over return states | Internal belief representation | Distributional uncertainty | Asset-return granularity | Return signal vs noise | Observable via allocation | Distributional encoding | Performance-based update | Predictive of future allocation | High | Correlated across assets | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Acceptance or rejection under uncertainty | Accept/reject distinctions conditional on states | Internal belief representation | Outcome ambiguity | Binary outcome granularity | Outcome-relevant signal vs noise | Observable via choice | Binary decision encoding | Evidence-conditioned revision | Predictive of decision boundary | Low | Correlated with similar choices | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Conditional choices following signals | Signal–action distinctions | Internal belief representation | Signal uncertainty | Signal-level granularity | Signal vs irrelevant variation | Partially observable | Signal–action mapping | Signal-based updating | Predictive of response to signal | Moderate | Correlated across related signals | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Actions taken after information revelation | Pre/post information distinctions | Internal belief representation | Reduced post-revelation uncertainty | Event-level granularity | Informative event vs background | Observable via choice | Event-conditioned encoding | Revelation-based update | Predictive of post-event action | Moderate | Correlated across similar events | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Hedging behavior | Joint-state exposure distinctions | Internal belief representation | Distributional uncertainty | Multi-state granularity | Risk-relevant signal vs noise | Observable via allocation | Distributional encoding | Outcome-based updating | Predictive of variance exposure | High | Correlated across assets/states | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Safety-seeking choices | Downside-state distinctions | Internal belief representation | Loss-focused uncertainty | Coarse downside granularity | Downside signal vs background | Observable via choice | Threshold-based encoding | Experience-based update | Predictive of conservative actions | Low to moderate | Correlated with other safety choices | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Contingent contracts selected | State–payoff contingencies | Internal belief representation | State uncertainty | Contract-state granularity | Contract-relevant signal vs noise | Observable via choice | Contingency encoding | Evidence-conditioned revision | Predictive of state beliefs | Moderate | Correlated across contract choices | Definable |
| Information | Beliefs about states | Menu choices conditioned on uncertainty | Menu–uncertainty distinctions | Internal belief representation | Menu-level ambiguity | Menu-level granularity | Informative uncertainty vs noise | Observable via choice | Menu-selection encoding | Experience-based update | Predictive of uncertainty response | Moderate | Correlated across menus | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Number of distinct signals received | Signal count distinctions | Signal medium / record | Signal uncertainty | Discrete signal granularity | Signal identification vs noise | Observable | Count-based encoding | Accumulation update | Predictive of information richness | Low | Potentially redundant signals | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Timing of signal arrival | Signal timing distinctions | Signal medium / record | Temporal uncertainty | Event-time granularity | Timely signal vs delay noise | Observable | Temporal encoding | Time-conditioned update | Predictive of reaction timing | Low to moderate | Correlated across signals | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Presence or absence of information | Information availability distinction | Signal medium | Binary uncertainty (known/unknown) | Binary granularity | Information vs absence | Observable / hidden | Binary availability encoding | Availability-based update | Predictive of action under ignorance | Low | Redundant across contexts | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Delayed vs immediate information | Timing distinction of information availability | Signal medium / record | Temporal uncertainty | Event-time granularity | Timely signal vs delay noise | Observable | Temporal availability encoding | Time-conditioned update | Predictive of timing-sensitive choices | Low to moderate | Correlated across signals | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Noisy vs clear signal realizations (as delivered) | Signal quality distinctions | Signal medium | Noise/ambiguity | Fine vs coarse signal granularity | Signal clarity vs noise characterization | Observable | Quality-weighted encoding | Noise-filtering update | Predictive of response accuracy | Moderate | Correlated across similar signals | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Information disclosure events | Disclosure state distinctions | Communication medium | Uncertainty reduction | Event-level granularity | Disclosed content vs background | Observable | Event-flag encoding | Disclosure-based update | Predictive of post-disclosure behavior | Moderate | Redundant across channels | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Menu changes caused by information release | Menu–information linkage distinctions | Decision interface | Conditional uncertainty | Menu-level granularity | Information-driven menu change vs noise | Observable | Conditional menu encoding | Revelation-conditioned update | Predictive of menu-dependent choice | Moderate | Correlated across releases | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Differences in choice across information treatments | Treatment–choice distinctions | Experimental record | Treatment uncertainty | Treatment-level granularity | Treatment signal vs uncontrolled variation | Observable | Treatment-indexed encoding | Treatment-based update | Predictive of information effects | Moderate | Correlated within treatment groups | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Observed confusion vs clarity responses | Confused vs clear informational states | Signal medium / presentation interface | Ambiguity level | Coarse vs fine distinctions | Clear signal vs ambiguous noise | Observable via response patterns | Clarity-coded encoding | Experience-conditioned revision | Predictive of response consistency | Low to moderate | Correlated across similar presentations | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Attention-limited visibility of options | Visible vs unseen option distinctions | Decision interface | Partial observability | Option-level granularity | Attended signals vs unattended noise | Partially observable | Visibility-filtered encoding | Attention-updating rule | Predictive of option consideration | Moderate | Correlated across option sets | Definable |
| Information | Information quality | Withheld vs revealed attributes | Attribute availability distinctions | Information display medium | Attribute uncertainty | Attribute-level granularity | Revealed attributes vs hidden noise | Partially observable | Attribute-mask encoding | Revelation-conditioned update | Predictive of attribute-sensitive choice | Moderate | Correlated across attributes | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Risk-averse vs risk-seeking choice patterns | Perceived outcome spread distinctions | Internal belief representation | Perceived risk uncertainty | Distributional granularity | Risk-relevant signal vs background | Observable via choice | Distributional encoding | Experience-based update | Predictive of variance exposure | High | Correlated across risky choices | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Demand for certainty | Certainty vs uncertainty distinctions | Internal belief representation | Ambiguity aversion | Binary or coarse granularity | Certain outcomes vs ambiguous noise | Observable via choice | Certainty-preference encoding | Feedback-based update | Predictive of information-seeking | Low to moderate | Correlated with safety choices | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Preference for sure outcomes | Certain vs uncertain outcome distinctions | Internal belief representation | Low vs high perceived uncertainty | Binary or coarse outcome granularity | Certain signal vs uncertain noise | Observable via choice | Certainty-flag encoding | Experience-conditioned update | Predictive of safe-option selection | Low | Correlated with ambiguity avoidance | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Avoidance of ambiguous options | Ambiguous vs non-ambiguous option distinctions | Internal belief representation | Ambiguity uncertainty | Option-level granularity | Ambiguity signal vs background noise | Observable via choice | Ambiguity-coded encoding | Feedback-based update | Predictive of option exclusion | Moderate | Correlated across ambiguous options | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Option elimination under uncertainty | Feasible-option belief distinctions | Internal belief representation | Unresolved uncertainty | Menu-level granularity | Eliminated vs retained options | Observable via choice | Elimination-mask encoding | Uncertainty-driven update | Predictive of reduced consideration sets | Moderate | Correlated within menus | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Demand for additional information | Information sufficiency distinctions | Internal belief representation | Residual uncertainty | Event-level granularity | Informative signal vs insufficient noise | Observable via information requests | Sufficiency-threshold encoding | Information-acquisition update | Predictive of search or delay | Low to moderate | Correlated with uncertainty levels | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Willingness to delay to reduce uncertainty | Delay–uncertainty tradeoff distinctions | Internal belief representation | Temporal uncertainty | Event-time granularity | Uncertain-now vs clearer-later signal | Observable via timing choice | Delay-for-information encoding | Anticipatory update | Predictive of delay acceptance | Moderate | Correlated with information demand | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Conservative action selection | Downside-dominant outcome distinctions | Internal belief representation | Elevated perceived risk | Coarse outcome granularity | Downside-relevant signal vs background noise | Observable via choice | Conservative-action encoding | Experience-conditioned update | Predictive of cautious actions | Low | Correlated with safety-seeking choices | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Diversification behavior | Cross-state exposure distinctions | Internal belief representation | Distributional uncertainty | Multi-asset/state granularity | Risk-spreading signal vs idiosyncratic noise | Observable via allocation | Distributional encoding | Outcome-based updating | Predictive of variance reduction | High | Correlated across assets | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Insurance uptake thresholds | Loss-probability threshold distinctions | Internal belief representation | Tail-risk uncertainty | Binary or threshold granularity | Loss-relevant signal vs background noise | Observable via purchase choice | Threshold-based encoding | Experience-based update | Predictive of insurance adoption | Moderate | Correlated with other risk protections | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Ambiguity-sensitive switching | Ambiguity-triggered action distinctions | Internal belief representation | Ambiguity uncertainty | Option-level granularity | Ambiguity signal vs noise | Observable via choice changes | Ambiguity-responsive encoding | Ambiguity-driven update | Predictive of switching patterns | Moderate | Correlated across ambiguous contexts | Definable |
| Information | Perceived uncertainty | Refusal to act without information | Action-permission distinctions under ignorance | Internal belief representation | Maximal perceived uncertainty | Binary action/no-action granularity | Information-present signal vs absence | Observable via inaction | Information-gate encoding | Availability-conditioned update | Predictive of inaction under ignorance | Low | Correlated with information demand | Definable |
7. Evaluation Observables
Every item listed:
- Is directly observable
- Is evaluative, not structural
- Is non-strategic
- Is single-agent
- Requires no numerical modeling
If something:
- Quantifies desirability → Method
- Encodes uncertainty numerically → Information
- Evolves as a process → Dynamics
- Involves another agent → Interaction
…it does not belong here.
SAT – Evidence – Observables – Evaluation – Choice (Microeconomic Foundations)
| Property Category | Property | Observable | Evaluated Entity / State | Evaluation Criterion | Comparator / Reference | Ordering Type | Direction of Preference | Aggregation Rule | Context / Domain of Validity | Optimality Concept | Tradeoff Structure | Tolerance / Acceptability Margin | Stability of Evaluation | Justification Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Chosen outcomes over rejected outcomes | Outcome | Preference | Rejected outcomes | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Chosen is better | Implicit (single criterion) | Choice context | Local optimum | Opportunity cost | Indifference band (if any) | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Repeated selection of the same option | Option | Consistency of preference | Alternative options | Ranking | Repeatedly chosen is better | Implicit | Repeated-choice context | Satisficing or local optimum | Foregone alternatives | Small deviations tolerated | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Tradeoffs accepted between attributes (e.g., more of X for less of Y) | Outcome configuration | Attribute valuation | Alternative attribute bundles | Partial order | Direction defined by tradeoff | Weighted combination | Attribute-tradeoff context | Local optimum | Explicit attribute tradeoffs | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Sacrifices accepted to obtain preferred outcomes | Outcome trajectory | Net preference | Less-preferred feasible outcomes | Ranking | Preferred outcome is better | Implicit | Sacrifice-allowing context | Satisficing | Opportunity cost | Acceptable sacrifice margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Option abandonment in favor of alternatives | Option set | Relative preference | Abandoned option | Ranking | Alternative is better | Implicit | Menu-change context | Local optimum | Switching cost | Small loss tolerance | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Persistence in pursuing certain outcomes | Outcome trajectory | Preference persistence | Alternative outcomes | Ranking | Persisted outcome is better | Implicit | Repeated-choice context | Satisficing | Foregone alternatives | Small deviation tolerated | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Willingness to incur costs for specific outcomes | Outcome | Net preference | Lower-cost alternatives | Ranking | Preferred outcome outweighs cost | Implicit | Cost-incurring context | Local optimum | Explicit cost–benefit tradeoff | Acceptable cost margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Threshold behavior (won’t choose below X) | Outcome | Minimum acceptability | Threshold baseline | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Above-threshold is better | Threshold-based | Threshold-evaluation context | Satisficing | Discrete cutoff | Indifference band at threshold | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Option dominance in repeated choices | Option | Dominance | Other options | Total or partial order | Dominant option is better | Implicit | Repeated-menu context | Local optimum | Opportunity cost | Small deviations tolerated | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Utility / value function | Outcome substitution behavior | Outcome configuration | Relative valuation | Replaced outcome | Partial order | Substitute preferred over replaced | Implicit | Substitution context | Local optimum | Substitution tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Choice of risky vs safe options | Outcome | Risk preference | Safe alternative | Binary acceptable / unacceptable or ranking | Lower risk preferred (risk-averse) or higher risk preferred (risk-seeking) | Implicit | Risky-choice context | Satisficing or local optimum | Risk–return tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Insurance purchase or refusal | Outcome | Risk reduction | Uninsured baseline | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Insured state preferred (if risk-averse) | Implicit | Loss-risk context | Satisficing | Premium vs loss tradeoff | Acceptable premium margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Acceptance or rejection of lotteries | Outcome | Expected risk acceptability | Certain outcome | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Accepted lottery preferred | Implicit | Lottery-choice context | Satisficing | Risk vs certainty tradeoff | Acceptance threshold | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Diversification vs concentration choices | Outcome configuration | Risk spreading | Concentrated allocation | Partial order | Diversified preferred (if risk-averse) | Implicit | Portfolio-choice context | Local optimum | Variance–return tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Avoidance of uncertain options | Option | Uncertainty aversion | Certain option | Ranking | Certain option preferred | Implicit | Ambiguous-choice context | Satisficing | Uncertainty avoidance | Zero-tolerance zone | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Preference for guaranteed outcomes | Outcome | Certainty preference | Risky alternative | Ranking or binary acceptable/unacceptable | Guaranteed outcome preferred | Implicit | Uncertain-outcome context | Satisficing | Certainty vs risk tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Switching behavior when uncertainty increases | Choice pattern | Risk sensitivity | Lower-uncertainty choice | Partial order | Lower uncertainty preferred | Implicit | Rising-uncertainty context | Local optimum | Risk escalation tradeoff | Switching threshold | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Demand for certainty premiums | Outcome | Certainty valuation | Risky baseline | Ranking | Higher certainty preferred | Implicit | Compensation-for-risk context | Satisficing | Premium vs risk tradeoff | Acceptable premium margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Refusal to engage under uncertainty | Action/outcome | Uncertainty aversion | Participation baseline | Binary acceptable/unacceptable | Non-engagement preferred | Implicit | High-uncertainty context | Satisficing | Participation vs uncertainty | Zero-tolerance zone | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Risk attitude | Consistent gambling or avoidance behavior | Choice trajectory | Risk disposition | Alternative risk posture | Ranking | Gambling or avoidance preferred | Implicit | Repeated-risk context | Local optimum | Risk–return tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Choice of sooner vs later rewards | Reward outcome | Temporal preference | Delayed alternative | Ranking or binary acceptable/unacceptable | Sooner or later preferred | Implicit | Intertemporal choice context | Satisficing or local optimum | Time–reward tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Saving vs immediate consumption | Consumption allocation | Intertemporal valuation | Immediate-consumption baseline | Ranking | Future consumption preferred (if patient) | Implicit | Consumption–saving context | Local optimum | Present vs future tradeoff | Acceptable delay margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Delay acceptance or rejection | Delayed outcome | Delay tolerance | Immediate alternative | Binary acceptable/unacceptable | Acceptable delay preferred | Threshold-based | Delay-evaluation context | Satisficing | Delay–benefit cutoff | Delay threshold | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Preference reversals over time | Outcome ordering | Temporal consistency | Prior ordering | Partial or inconsistent order | Later preference overrides earlier | Implicit | Time-varying context | Local optimum (contextual) | Inconsistent tradeoff | Indifference overlap | Variable | Behavioral |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Procrastination behavior | Action timing | Temporal valuation | Immediate-action baseline | Ranking | Delay preferred over immediate | Implicit | Task-timing context | Satisficing | Effort–delay tradeoff | Delay tolerance zone | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Front-loaded vs back-loaded consumption | Consumption timing profile | Temporal valuation | Alternative timing profile | Ranking | Front-loaded or back-loaded preferred | Implicit | Intertemporal consumption context | Local optimum | Timing–consumption tradeoff | Indifference band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Early vs late effort exertion | Effort timing | Temporal cost–benefit valuation | Alternative effort timing | Ranking | Earlier or later effort preferred | Implicit | Task-execution context | Satisficing | Effort–delay tradeoff | Acceptable delay margin | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Waiting tolerance | Delayed outcome | Delay acceptability | Immediate outcome | Threshold / binary acceptable | Delay tolerated up to limit | Threshold-based | Waiting-decision context | Satisficing | Delay–benefit tradeoff | Waiting tolerance band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Abandonment due to delay | Outcome pursuit | Delay aversion | Continued waiting baseline | Binary acceptable/unacceptable | Abandonment preferred beyond delay | Implicit | Delay-cost context | Satisficing | Delay vs payoff tradeoff | Zero-tolerance zone | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Time preference | Timing-based switching behavior | Choice pattern over time | Temporal preference sensitivity | Prior timing choice | Partial order | New timing preferred | Implicit | Changing-delay context | Local optimum | Timing re-evaluation tradeoff | Switching threshold | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Lexicographic choices (one attribute dominates all others) | Outcome configuration | Attribute priority | Any alternative differing on dominant attribute | Lexicographic order | Dominant attribute higher is better | Lexicographic (no aggregation) | Attribute-priority context | Lexicographic optimum | No tradeoffs allowed | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Rule-based exclusions (“never choose X”) | Option | Prohibition rule | All other options | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Non-excluded options preferred | Rule-based (exclusion) | Rule-governed context | Satisficing (by exclusion) | No compensating tradeoffs | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Deontic / axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Satisficing behavior | Outcome | Acceptability threshold | Minimum acceptable standard | Binary or partial order | Meets threshold is better | Threshold rule | Bounded-rationality context | Satisficing | Tradeoffs ignored beyond threshold | Acceptability band | Fixed | Behavioral |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Threshold rules | Outcome | Minimum/maximum criterion | Threshold baseline | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Above/below threshold preferred | Threshold-based | Threshold-evaluation context | Satisficing | Discrete cutoff | Threshold band | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Moral or categorical refusals | Action or outcome | Moral/categorical rule | All feasible alternatives | Binary prohibition | Refused options always worse | Rule-based (categorical) | Moral/categorical context | No-optimum (exclusion) | No tradeoffs permitted | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Ethical / deontic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Priority-based decision rules | Outcome configuration | Attribute priority | Alternatives differing on higher-priority attribute | Lexicographic or priority order | Higher-priority satisfaction is better | Priority rule (non-compensatory) | Priority-rule context | Lexicographic optimum | No compensating tradeoffs | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Attribute veto behavior | Outcome configuration | Veto condition | Any option violating veto attribute | Binary acceptable / unacceptable | Non-vetoed options preferred | Veto rule | Veto-governed context | Satisficing by exclusion | Absolute veto (no tradeoff) | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Deontic / axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | All-or-nothing choices | Outcome | Completeness requirement | Partial or compromised outcomes | Binary order | Fully meeting criterion is better | Binary rule | All-or-nothing context | Satisficing | No partial compensation | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Hard preferences insensitive to tradeoffs | Option or outcome | Non-compensatory preference | Any alternative | Total or partial order | Preferred option always better | Non-compensatory | Tradeoff-insensitive context | Lexicographic / fixed optimum | Tradeoffs ignored | Zero tolerance | Fixed | Axiomatic |
| Evaluation | Subjective “better vs. worse” criteria | Context-independent evaluative rules | Outcome | Context invariance | Same outcome across contexts | Stable ranking | Same ordering everywhere | Implicit | Cross-context validity | Context-invariant optimum | Fixed tradeoff structure | Indifference band (if any) | Fixed | Axiomatic |