Short Run Needs and Long Term Goals: A Dynamic Model of Thirst Management

49 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2012

See all articles by Yale Cowles Submitter

Yale Cowles Submitter

Yale University - Cowles Foundation

Guofang Huang

Purdue University

Ahmed Khwaja

University of Cambridge - Judge Business School; Yale School of Management; Yale University - Cowles Foundation

K. Sudhir

Yale School of Management; Yale University-Department of Economics; Yale University - Cowles Foundation

Date Written: March 23, 2012

Abstract

Beverage consumption occurs many times a day in response to a variety of needs that change throughout the day. In making their choices, consumers self-regulate their consumption by managing short run needs (e.g., hydration and mood pickup) with long-term goals (e.g., health). Using unique intra-day beverage consumption, activity and psychological needs data, we develop and estimate a model of high frequency consumption choices that accounts for both intra-day changes in short run needs and individual level unobserved heterogeneity in the degree of self-regulation. A novel feature of the model is that it allows for dynamics of consumption and stockpiling at the level of product attributes. The model is used to evaluate introduction of new products in the beverage category and gain insight into the linkage between self-regulation and excess consumption. Broadly, the modeling framework of balancing short run needs with long-term goals has wide ranging applications in choices where long term effects are gradual (e.g., nutrition, exercise, smoking and preventive health care).

Keywords: Dynamic discrete choice, EM algorithm, Self-regulation, Stockpiling, Health care, Needs, Goals, Obesity, Beverages, New product introductions

Suggested Citation

Submitter, Yale Cowles and Huang, Guofang and Khwaja, Ahmed and Sudhir, K., Short Run Needs and Long Term Goals: A Dynamic Model of Thirst Management (March 23, 2012). Cowles Foundation Discussion Paper No. 1856, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2028006 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2028006

Yale Cowles Submitter

Yale University - Cowles Foundation ( email )

Box 208281
New Haven, CT 06520-8281
United States
203-432-3709 (Phone)

Guofang Huang

Purdue University ( email )

West Lafayette, IN 47906
United States

Ahmed Khwaja (Contact Author)

University of Cambridge - Judge Business School ( email )

Trumpington Street
Cambridge, CB2 1AG
United Kingdom

Yale School of Management ( email )

135 Prospect Street
P.O. Box 208200
New Haven, CT 06520-8200
United States

Yale University - Cowles Foundation

Box 208281
New Haven, CT 06520-8281
United States

K. Sudhir

Yale School of Management ( email )

135 Prospect Street
P.O. Box 208200
New Haven, CT 06520-8200
United States
203-432-3289 (Phone)
203-432-3003 (Fax)

Yale University-Department of Economics ( email )

28 Hillhouse Ave
New Haven, CT 06520-8268
United States

Yale University - Cowles Foundation ( email )

Box 208281
New Haven, CT 06520-8281
United States

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