Thinking Ahead: The Decision Problem

Patrick Bolton and Antoine Faure-Grimaud

No 11867, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We propose a model of bounded rationality based on time-costs of deliberating current and future decisions. We model an individual decision maker's thinking process as a thought-experiment that takes time and let the decision maker "think ahead" about future decision problems in yet unrealized states of nature. By formulating an intertemporal, state-contingent, planning problem, which may involve costly deliberation in every state of nature, and by letting the decision-maker deliberate ahead of the realization of a state, we attempt to capture the basic idea that individuals generally do not think through a complete action-plan. Instead, individuals prioritize their thinking and leave deliberations on less important decisions to the time or event when they arise.

JEL-codes: C61 D81 D84 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-knm and nep-mic
Note: CF
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published as Patrick Bolton & Antoine Faure-Grimaud, 2009. "Thinking Ahead: The Decision Problem," Review of Economic Studies, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 76(4), pages 1205-1238, October.

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Journal Article: Thinking Ahead: The Decision Problem (2009)
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