Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
Published on: June 8, 2018
Explaining the harmonic sequence paradox
Ulrich Schmidt1, Alexander Zimper
1Department of Economics, University of Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
According to the harmonic sequence paradox, an expected utility decision maker's willingness to pay for a gamble whose expected payoffs evolve according to the harmonic series is finite if and only if his marginal utility of additional income becomes zero for rather low payoff levels. Since the assumption of zero marginal utility is implausible for finite payoff levels, expected utility theory - as well as its standard generalizations such as cumulative prospect theory - are apparently unable to explain a finite willingness to pay. This paper presents first an experimental study of the harmonic sequence paradox. Additionally, it demonstrates that the theoretical argument of the harmonic sequence paradox only applies to time-patient decision makers, whereas the paradox is easily avoided if time-impatience is introduced.
Related Concept Videos
Sequences
Standing Waves
Geometric Sequences
Properties of Fourier series II
A function f(t) is...
Parseval's Theorem
Interestingly, Parseval's theorem also holds for the trigonometric form of the Fourier series, which expresses a...
Arithmetic Sequences

