Wilfried Youmbi Fotso

Welcome to my webpage!

I am an Assistant Professor of Economics (Limited Term) in the Department of Economics at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University. I received my PhD in Economics from Western University in 2025.

My research utilizes revealed preference theory to examine decision-making when households deviate from traditional rational behavior. This approach challenges established assumptions, such as transitivity, deepens our understanding of economic behavior, and fosters the development of innovative tools for analyzing consumer dynamics in contexts where conventional theories may fall short.

My research interests include Microeconomics, Applied Econometrics, and Development Economics.

Contacts: wyoumbifotso@wlu.ca

Find my CV here

Nonparametric Analysis of Random Preference Models That Allow for Nontransitivity (New Version!)

Traditional economic models assume transitivity of preferences, yet behavioral evidence shows violations are common, potentially undermining welfare analysis and policy design. This paper introduces the Random Preference Model (RPM), a framework accommodating nontransitive preferences while remaining consistent with the Weak Axiom of Revealed Preference. The RPM provides a robust foundation for individual and market demand, accounting for price-dependent income distributions. Using UK Family Expenditure Survey data, I identify distinct consumer profiles and document empirical evidence of nontransitive behavior, highlighting limitations of traditional rational choice models. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating heterogeneous preferences and realistic behavioral assumptions when evaluating individual behaviors.

Presentations: Canadian Economics Association (June, 2024); EconNect Africa (August & October, 2024); Economic Graduate Students' Conference at Washington University in St. Louis (October, 2024); Applied/Metrics lunch talk (May, 2024), the AMM reading group (April, 2024), and Microeconomic Theory seminar (Novermber, 2024) at the University of Western Ontario, Canadian Econometrics Study Group (October, 2024), 2025 World Congress of the Econometric Society.

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