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Good Things Come to Those Who (Are Taught How to) Wait: Results from a Randomized Educational Intervention on Time Preference

Author

Listed:
  • Sule Alan

    (University of Essex)

  • Seda Ertac

    (Koc University)

Abstract

We report results from the impact evaluation of a randomized educational intervention targeted at elementary school children. The program uses case studies, stories and classroom activities to improve the ability to imagine future selves, and emphasizes forward-looking behavior. We find that treated students make more patient intertemporal choices in incentivized experimental tasks. The effect is stronger for students who are identified as present-biased in the baseline. Furthermore, using official administrative records, we find that treated children are significantly less likely to receive a low "behavioral grade". These results are persistent one year after the intervention, replicate well in a different sample, and are robust across different experimental elicitation methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Sule Alan & Seda Ertac, 2015. "Good Things Come to Those Who (Are Taught How to) Wait: Results from a Randomized Educational Intervention on Time Preference," Working Papers 2015-003, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2015-003
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    File URL: http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/alan_ertac_2015_time_intervention.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Matteo Migheli & Flavia Coda Moscarola, 2017. "Gender Differences in Financial Education: Evidence from Primary School," De Economist, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 321-347, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intertemporal choice; randomized field experiments; non-cognitive skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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