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The additive property of the inconsistency degree in intertemporal decision making through the generalization of psychophysical laws

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  • Destefano, Natália
  • Martinez, Alexandre Souto

Abstract

Intertemporal decision making involves choices among options whose effects occur at different moments. These choices are influenced not only by the effect of reward value perception at different moments, but also by the time perception effect. One of the main difficulties that affect standard experiments involving intertemporal choices is the simultaneity of both effects on time discounting. In this paper, we unify the psychophysical laws and discount value functions using the one-parameter exponential and logarithmic functions from nonextensive statistical mechanics. Also, we propose to measure the degree of inconsistency. This quantity allow us to discriminate both effects of time and value perception on discounting process and, by integration, obtain other main quantities like impulsivity and discount functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Destefano, Natália & Martinez, Alexandre Souto, 2011. "The additive property of the inconsistency degree in intertemporal decision making through the generalization of psychophysical laws," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 390(10), pages 1763-1772.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:390:y:2011:i:10:p:1763-1772
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2011.01.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. dos Santos, Lindomar Soares & Destefano, Natália & Martinez, Alexandre Souto, 2018. "Decision making generalized by a cumulative probability weighting function," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 490(C), pages 250-259.
    2. Salvador Cruz Rambaud & María José Muñoz Torrecillas, 2016. "Measuring Impatience in Intertemporal Choice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Lu, Yang & Zhuang, Xintian, 2014. "The impact of gender and working experience on intertemporal choices," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 409(C), pages 146-153.
    4. Han, Ruokang & Takahashi, Taiki, 2012. "Psychophysics of time perception and valuation in temporal discounting of gain and loss," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(24), pages 6568-6576.
    5. Rivera-Castro, Miguel A. & Miranda, José G.V. & Borges, Ernesto P. & Cajueiro, Daniel O. & Andrade, Roberto F.S., 2012. "A top–bottom price approach to understanding financial fluctuations," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(4), pages 1489-1496.

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