This review critically discusses the theoretical models of discounting through a selection of papers. It will focus on the comparison between the two major models, namely discounted utility and hyperbolic discounting. This paper differs from previous surveys in the attention given to the interpretation of models and suggestions for future research. First, it stresses how the economics literature is biased itself, since it considers only present-biased preferences on the basis of not well grounded evidence, while also future-biased preferences are worthwhile of attention to address relevant issues, like compulsive behaviors and work-life unbalance. Second, it makes qualifications on the meaning of self-awareness, distinguishing between cognitive boundaries and beliefs. Third, it suggests future direction of research to address this issue, fundamental for a sound policy analysis, by showing how the two main welfare criteria used in the literature to evaluate welfare of inconsistent individuals (long-run utility and Pareto criterion) have relevant shortcomings. Finally, it proposes a new perspective on misprediction of utility based on time perception
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Publisher Info
Paper provided by Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit in its series AICCON Working Papers with number
57-2008.
Find related papers by JEL classification: A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory D90 - Microeconomics - - Intertemporal Choice and Growth - - - General