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Long‐Term Contracting With Time‐Inconsistent Agents

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  • Daniel Gottlieb
  • Xingtan Zhang

Abstract

We study contracts between naive present‐biased consumers and risk‐neutral firms. We show that the welfare loss from present bias vanishes as the contracting horizon grows. This is true both when bargaining power is on the consumers' and on the firms' side, when consumers cannot commit to long‐term contracts, and when firms do not know the consumers' naiveté. However, the welfare loss from present bias does not vanish when firms do not know the consumers' present bias or when they cannot offer exclusive contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Gottlieb & Xingtan Zhang, 2021. "Long‐Term Contracting With Time‐Inconsistent Agents," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(2), pages 793-824, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:emetrp:v:89:y:2021:i:2:p:793-824
    DOI: 10.3982/ECTA17126
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    Cited by:

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    3. Camilo Hern'andez & Dylan Possamai, 2023. "Time-inconsistent contract theory," Papers 2303.01601, arXiv.org.
    4. Soheil Ghili & Ben Handel & Igal Hendel & Michael D. Whinston, 2019. "Optimal Long-Term Health Insurance Contracts: Characterization, Computation, and Welfare Effects," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2218R2, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University, revised May 2021.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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