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It's time to cheat!

Author

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  • Bucciol, Alessandro
  • Cicognani, Simona
  • Montinari, Natalia

Abstract

We study the correlation between time preferences and cheating. In our experiment, cheating increases the earnings of those who commit it and only entails a moral cost. We are the first to measure both (a proxy for) the propensity to cheat and time preferences at the individual level, determining whether cheaters are more likely to be more present-biased or to have a higher discount factor. We observe widespread cheating, which prevails among subjects with present bias and overconfidence.

Suggested Citation

  • Bucciol, Alessandro & Cicognani, Simona & Montinari, Natalia, 2024. "It's time to cheat!," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:108:y:2024:i:c:s2214804323001829
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2023.102156
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cheating; Time Discounting; Quasi-hyperbolic preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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