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Optimal irrational behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Feigenbaum, James
  • Caliendo, Frank N.
  • Gahramanov, Emin

Abstract

Contrary to the usual presumption that welfare is maximized if consumers behave rationally, we show in a two-period overlapping generations model that there always exists a rule of thumb that can weakly improve upon the lifecycle/permanent-income rule in general equilibrium with irrational households. The market-clearing mechanism introduces a pecuniary externality that individual rational households do not consider when making decisions, but a publically shared rule of thumb can exploit this effect. For typical calibrations, the improvement of the welfare of irrational households is robust to the introduction of rational agents. Generalizing to a more realistic lifecycle model, we find in particular that the Save More Tomorrow(TM) (SMarT) Plan can confer higher lifetime utility than the permanent-income rule in general equilibrium.
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Suggested Citation

  • Feigenbaum, James & Caliendo, Frank N. & Gahramanov, Emin, 2009. "Optimal irrational behavior," Working Papers eco_2009_01, Deakin University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:dkn:econwp:eco_2009_01
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2010.11.002
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    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2010.11.002
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    1. Optimal irrationality
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2009-09-02 19:34:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Feigenbaum, James & Gahramanov, Emin & Tang, Xueli, 2013. "Is it really good to annuitize?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 116-140.
    2. Park, Hyeon & Feigenbaum, James, 2018. "Bounded rationality, lifecycle consumption, and Social Security," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 65-105.
    3. Feigenbaum, James & Caliendo, Frank N., 2010. "Optimal irrational behavior in continuous time," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1907-1922, October.
    4. Howitt, Peter & Özak, Ömer, 2014. "Adaptive consumption behavior," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 37-61.
    5. Feigenbaum, James, 2016. "Equivalent representations of non-exponential discounting models," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 58-71.
    6. Cottle Hunt, Erin & Neumuller, Seth & Shivdasani, Yashna, 2024. "To plan, or not to plan? Optimal planning and saving for retirement," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 39-65.

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    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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