Foundations for Intertemporal Choice

Ali al-Nowaihi () and Sanjit Dhami

No 6913, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We consider discounted-utility models with a reference stream of outcomes. We provide a common framework for the main empirically supported discount functions in terms of three underlying functions: The delay, speedup and generating functions. Each of the delay and speedup functions can be uniquely elicited from behavior and, hence, can be fitted to the data. These two functions determine whether the discount function is subadditive, additive or superadditive; and whether the discount function exhibits declining, constant or increasing impatience. The third function, the generating function, links the speedup function to the discount function. Our framework nests several important attribute-based models that are typically considered to be in a separate class. We also show that apparent intransitivities of time preferences can be accounted for by framing effects.

Keywords: time discounting; framing effects; impatience; additivity; common difference effect; intransitive preferences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C60 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mic and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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