 PRUDENT DISCOUNTING: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE ON HIGHER ORDER TIME RISK PREFERENCESInternational Economic Review, 2021, vol. 62, issue 4, 1489-1511 Abstract: We report results from an experiment that contrasts preferences toward the risk of what may happen (outcome risk preferences) with preferences toward the risk of when something may happen (time or delay risk preferences). Just as choices over monetary risks identify utility independently from discounting, choices over uncertain delays of a fixed reward identify discounting independently from utility. We replicate the widespread finding of outcome risk aversion, but—in a perfectly symmetric design—find substantial heterogeneity in delay risk aversion. Going beyond the second order of risk aversion, on the other hand, yields pervasive evidence for delay prudence and outcome prudence alike. This first empirical support for prudent discounting speaks to recent theoretical arguments that prudence may be a more important trait than previously realized. Date: 2021 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:62:y:2021:i:4:p:1489-1511 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article International Economic Review is currently edited by Michael O'Riordan and Dirk Krueger More articles in International Economic Review from Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association 160 McNeil Building, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6297. Contact information at EDIRC. |
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