Economic agents consistently act in accordance with rational choice theory
Economic agents consistently acting in accordance with strict rational choice theory is refuted by extensive literature demonstrating bounded rationality, psychological biases, and contextual decision-making deviations.
While rational choice theory remains a useful modeling assumption in specific contexts (as seen in paper [4]), a wealth of behavioral economics, bounded rationality, and evolutionary game theory literature (papers [0], [3], [5], [7]) establishes that economic agents frequently deviate from strict, textbook rational choice due to cognitive limitations, framing, and information asymmetries. Therefore, the claim that they consistently act in accordance with rational choice theory is refuted.
Xie L, Wang Y, Zeng S. Interpreting the Choice Logic Surrounding High-Scoring Students' Enrollment in China's Vocational Secondary-Undergraduate Articulation Program: A Theoretical Thematic Analysis of Public Discourse.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050734
Paper [4] demonstrates that high-scoring students' educational choices can be effectively interpreted as a rational response to structural constraints and incentives.
Salahshour M. Perceptual rationality: an evolutionary game theory of perceptually rational decision-making.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.251125
Paper [0] highlights bounded rationality and perceptual diversity rather than strictly consistent rational choice.
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Yang Q, Liu S, Zhang F, Cao C, Liang L. Collaborative strategies for planning post-earthquake waste disposal facilities: a bounded rationality perspective.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37102-z
Paper [3] explicitly uses a bounded rationality framework for stakeholder decision-making in disaster waste management.
Espín AM, García-Martínez JM. Behavioral Economics in People Management: A Critical and Integrative Review.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010065
Paper [5] underscores that behavioral economics—which critiques traditional pure rationality—better explains human decision-making in practice.
Wei J, Zhou J, Zheng L, Minyi D, Xiao Y, Boyuan M, He Q, Zhang L, Song L. Evolutionary game model for public health emergency management in universities.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42052-7
Paper [7] incorporates bounded rationality and incomplete information into its evolutionary game model of public health emergency management.
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