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The Multi-Faces Of Procrastination

Author

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  • Nazaria Solferino

    (Dipartimento di Economia e Statistica, Università della Calabria)

Abstract

Often people procrastinate unpleasant tasks for immediate gratification in doing nothing today. Therefore many scholars have been engaged in designing incentive schemes to avoid it. We think the process is very complicated and many features need to be analyzed, as the subjective evaluations of succeeding and rewards. Moreover, sometime people procrastinate because they feel insecure, investing to improve their performance hoping in a better result in the long run. This process can be dangerous, producing as result that we call “the curse of perfectionism”. Nevertheless procrastination may also have positive consequences if people spend their time in alternative activities, also useful for other ex post best rewarded tasks. We call this case as “productive procrastination”. In this paper we explore all these possibilities and underline conditions for they happen. We also discuss our results according to the difference between naive and sophisticated subjects.

Suggested Citation

  • Nazaria Solferino, 2010. "The Multi-Faces Of Procrastination," Working Papers 201013, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    • Handle: RePEc:clb:wpaper:201013
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    File URL: http://www.ecostat.unical.it/RePEc/WorkingPapers/WP13_2010.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2010-06
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ted O'Donoghue & Matthew Rabin, 2001. "Choice and Procrastination," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 116(1), pages 121-160.
    2. Ted O'Donoghue & Matthew Rabin, 1999. "Incentives for Procrastinators," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(3), pages 769-816.
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    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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