Interpreting Time Horizon Effects in Inter-Temporal Choice
47 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2013
There are 3 versions of this paper
Interpreting Time Horizon Effects in Inter-Temporal Choice
Interpreting Time Horizon Effects in Inter-Temporal Choice
Interpreting Time Horizon Effects in Inter-Temporal Choice
Date Written: February 16, 2012
Abstract
We compare different designs that have been used to test for an impact of time horizon on discounting, using real incentives and two representative data sets. With the most commonly used type of design we replicate the typical finding of declining (hyperbolic) discounting, but with other designs find constant or increasing discounting. As a whole, the data are not consistent with any of these usual candidate discounting assumptions, and they also imply a violation of transitivity. The results have implications for interpreting previous evidence, and pose an important puzzle for understanding inter-temporal choice.
Keywords: time preference, hyperbolic discounting, self-control, dynamic inconsistency, intransitivity
JEL Classification: D01, D90, D03, E21
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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