Tat will tell: Tattoos and time preferences

Bradley Ruffle and Anne Wilson
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Anne Wilson: Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada

Working Paper series from Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis

Abstract: Survey evidence suggests that the 40+ generation maintains negative stereotypes about tattoos, despite their prevalence. Because employers typically belong to this older generation, younger individuals' decision to get tattooed may reflect short-sightedness. Indeed, we show that, according to numerous measures, those with tattoos, especially visible ones, are more short-sighted and impulsive than the non-tattooed. Almost nothing mitigates these results, neither the motive for the tattoo, the time contemplated before getting tattooed nor the time elapsed since the last tattoo. Even the expressed intention to get a(nother) tattoo predicts increased short-sightedness and establishes the direction of causality between tattoos and short-sightedness.

Keywords: experimental economics; tattoo; time preferences; impulsivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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http://rcea.org/RePEc/pdf/wp18-15.pdf

Related works:
Journal Article: Tat will tell: Tattoos and time preferences (2019)
Working Paper: Tat will tell: Tattoos and time preferences (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rim:rimwps:18-15

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