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Testable Implications of Models of Intertemporal Choice: Exponential Discounting and Its Generalizations

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  • Federico Echenique
  • Taisuke Imai
  • Kota Saito

Abstract

We present revealed-preference characterizations of the most common models of intertemporal choice: the model of exponentially discounted concave utility, and some of its generalizations. Our characterizations take consumption data as primitives, and provide nonparametric revealed-preference tests. We apply our tests to data from two recent experiments and find that our axiomatization delivers new insights and perspectives on datasets that had been analyzed by traditional parametric methods.

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  • Federico Echenique & Taisuke Imai & Kota Saito, 2020. "Testable Implications of Models of Intertemporal Choice: Exponential Discounting and Its Generalizations," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 114-143, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmic:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:114-43
    DOI: 10.1257/mic.20180028
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    Cited by:

    1. Federico Echenique & Gerelt Tserenjigmid, 2023. "Revealed preferences for dynamically inconsistent models," Papers 2305.14125, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2023.
    2. Balbus, Łukasz & Reffett, Kevin & Woźny, Łukasz, 2022. "Time-consistent equilibria in dynamic models with recursive payoffs and behavioral discounting," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Else Gry Bro Christensen & Takeshi Murooka, 2020. "Procrastination and Learning about Self-Control," OSIPP Discussion Paper 20E001, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    4. Eileen Tipoe & Abi Adams & Ian Crawford, 2022. "Revealed preference analysis and bounded rationality [Consume now or later? Time inconsistency, collective choice and revealed preference]," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 74(2), pages 313-332.
    5. Keigo Inukai & Yuta Shimodaira & Kohei Shiozawa, 2022. "Revisiting CES utility functions for distributional preferences: Do people face the equality–efficiency trade-off?," ISER Discussion Paper 1195r, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University, revised Sep 2024.
    6. repec:dpr:wpaper:1195 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Matthew Polisson & John Quah, 2022. "Rationalizability, Cost-Rationalizability, and Afriat's Efficiency Index," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 22/754, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    8. Pawe{l} Dziewulski & Joshua Lanier & John K. -H. Quah, 2024. "Revealed preference and revealed preference cycles: a survey," Papers 2405.08459, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving

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