What Happiness Research Can Tell Us About Self-Control Problems and Utility Misprediction

Alois Stutzer and Bruno Frey

No 1952, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Neoclassical economic theory rules out systematic errors in consumption choice. According to the basic view, individuals know what they choose. They are able to predict how much utility an activity or a good produces for them now and in the future and they can maximize their utility. This implies that behavior reveals consistent preferences. This approach makes it impossible to detect and understand sub-optimal consumption decisions, due to problems of self-control and the misprediction of utility. We propose the economics of happiness as a methodological approach to study these phenomena. Based on proxy measures for experienced utility, it is, in principle, possible to directly address whether some observed behavior is sub-optimal and is therefore reducing a person’s well-being. We discuss recent evidence on smoking and eating habits, TV viewing and commuting choice.

Keywords: utility misprediction; individual decision-making; revealed preference; self-control; adaptation; subjective well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D00 D11 D12 D84 D91 I12 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2006-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

Published - published in: Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer (eds.), Economics and Psychology. A Promising New Cross-Disciplinary Field, Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007, 169-195

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