# Optimal Dynamic Allocation of Attention

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.06967 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.06967/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 15 Dec 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Pricing Access to Dynamic Information Services](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.09859/) (2025)
- [All Substitution Is Local](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.01443/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We consider a decision maker (DM) who, before taking an action, seeks information by allocating her limited attention dynamically over different news sources that are biased toward alternative actions. Endogenous choice of information generates rich dynamics: The chosen news source either reinforces or weakens the prior, shaping subsequent attention choices, belief updating, and the final action. The DM adopts a learning strategy biased toward the current belief when the belief is extreme and against that belief when it is moderate. Applied to consumption of news media, observed behavior exhibits an `echo-chamber' effect for partisan voters and a novel `anti echo-chamber' effect for moderates.