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Motivated Procrastination

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte Cordes
  • Jana Friedrichsen
  • Simeon Schudy

Abstract

Procrastination is often attributed to time-inconsistent preferences but may also arise when individuals derive anticipatory utility from holding optimistic beliefs about their future effort costs. This study provides a rigorous empirical test for this notion of ‘motivated procrastination’. In a longitudinal experiment over four weeks, individuals must complete a cumbersome task of unknown length. We find that exogenous variation in scope for motivated reasoning results in optimistic beliefs among workers, which causally increase the deferral of work to the future. The roots for biased beliefs stem from motivated memory, such that procrastination may persist even if uncertainty is eventually resolved.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Cordes & Jana Friedrichsen & Simeon Schudy, 2024. "Motivated Procrastination," CESifo Working Paper Series 11072, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11072
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    File URL: https://www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp11072.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    anticipatory utility; beliefs; memory; motivated cognition; procrastination; real effort; task allocation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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