Hyperbolic discounting may be time consistent

Nicolas Drouhin ()

Economics Bulletin, 2009, vol. 29, issue 4, 2549-2555

Abstract: Using dynamic programming methodology, the paper analyzes the most general conditions for an additive utility functional to represent time consistent preferences. It challenges the conventional wisdom of the domain, which, following Strotz(1956), assume that only exponential discounting is compatible with time consistent behavior. The paper gives some examples of special time consistent hyperbolic discount functions and also discuss the relation between time consistency and stationarity.

Keywords: intertemporal choice; consumption and saving; time consistency; time discounting; exponential discounting; hyperbolic discounting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D9 E2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-10-12
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Hyperbolic discounting may be time consistent (2009)
Working Paper: Hyperbolic discounting may be time consistent (2009)
Working Paper: Hyperbolic discounting may be time consistent (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-09-00453

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