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Influence and choice shifts in households: An experimental investigation

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  • Yang, Xiaojun
  • Carlsson, Fredrik

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the relative influence of individual decisions on joint household decisions, and whether and to what extent joint choices are more or less patient than individual choices in households. We find that both spouses have a significant influence on joint decisions, whereas husbands on average have a stronger influence than wives. Moreover, we find a substantial share of choice shifts from individual to joint household decisions, i.e. joint decisions are either more patient or more impatient than both individual choices. A number of observable characteristics are significantly correlated with these shifts in preferences from individual decisions to joint decisions.

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  • Yang, Xiaojun & Carlsson, Fredrik, 2016. "Influence and choice shifts in households: An experimental investigation," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 54-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:53:y:2016:i:c:p:54-66
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2015.11.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bernedo Del Carpio, María & Alpizar, Francisco & Ferraro, Paul J., 2022. "Time and risk preferences of individuals, married couples and unrelated pairs," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Yayan Hernuryadin & Koji Kotani & Yoshio Kamijo, 2019. "Time Preferences between Individuals and Groups in the Transition from Hunter-Gatherer to Industrial Societies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Boto-García, David & Mariel, Petr & Baños-Pino, José Francisco, 2023. "Intra-household bargaining for a joint vacation," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    5. Yayan Hernuryadin & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2018. "Individual time preferences of married couples in a fisheries society," Working Papers SDES-2018-5, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Aug 2018.
    6. Yang, Xiaojun & Carlsson, Fredrik, 2021. "Are People More Patient with Their Spouse's Money? An Experimental Study," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Rong, Rong & Gnagey, Matthew & Grijalva, Therese, 2018. "“The less you Discount, the more it shows you really care”: Interpersonal discounting in households," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1-23.
    8. Hisaki Kono & Tomomi Tanaka, 2019. "Does marriage work as a savings commitment device? Experimental evidence from Vietnam," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Nacka, Marina & Drichoutis, Andreas C. & Nayga, Rodolfo, 2024. "Women's Empowerment and Intra-Household Bargaining Power," MPRA Paper 120095, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Kirsten I.M. Rohde & Job van Exel & Merel A.J. van Hulsen, 2021. "Weighting the Waiting: Intertemporal Social Preferences," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-023/I, Tinbergen Institute, revised 01 Mar 2024.
    11. Nie, Zihan & Yang, Xiaojun & Tu, Qin, 2020. "Resource scarcity and cooperation: Evidence from a gravity irrigation system in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    12. Matthew Gnagey & Therese Grijalva & Rong Rong, 2020. "Spousal influence and assortative mating on time preferences: a field experiment in the USA," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 461-512, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Individual decisions; Joint decisions; Patience; Choice shifts; Rural China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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