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Temporal discounting of gains and losses of time: An experimental investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammed Abdellaoui

    (CNRS & HEC Paris)

  • Cédric Gutierrez

    (Bocconi University)

  • Emmanuel Kemel

    (CNRS & HEC Paris)

Abstract

This paper investigates “asymmetries” between non-monetary gains and losses in intertemporal choice. We considered gains and losses of spare/working time with respect to a reference duration defined in a working contract. Specifically, we elicited a behavioral model of intertemporal choice that accounts for a gain/loss-dependent discounting function and a reference-dependent utility. Additionally, we did not impose preference for the present (positive discounting) and allowed for both decreasing and increasing impatience. While our results are standard regarding the discount of money (our baseline treatment), our subjects heavily discounted gains of time. More patience was observed for losses of time and a sizable portion of subjects even exhibited negative discounting, i.e. they preferred to expedite losses of time. Our econometric estimations also reveal a much larger heterogeneity of behavior in terms of both utility and discounting for gains and losses of spare time as compared to money.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Abdellaoui & Cédric Gutierrez & Emmanuel Kemel, 2018. "Temporal discounting of gains and losses of time: An experimental investigation," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-28, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:57:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s11166-018-9287-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11166-018-9287-1
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    Cited by:

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    3. Cédric Gutierrez & Tomasz Obloj & Douglas H. Frank, 2021. "Better to have led and lost than never to have led at all? Lost leadership and effort provision in dynamic tournaments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(4), pages 774-801, April.
    4. Bigoni, Maria & Dragone, Davide & Luchini, Stephane & Prati, Alberto, 2021. "Estimating time preferences for leisure," CEPR Discussion Papers 16367, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Arthur E. Attema & Zhihua Li, 2024. "Reference-dependent discounting," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 69(1), pages 57-83, August.
    6. Han Bleichrodt & Jason N. Doctor & Yu Gao & Chen Li & Daniella Meeker & Peter P. Wakker, 2019. "Resolving Rabin’s paradox," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 239-260, December.
    7. Pavlo R. Blavatskyy, 2022. "Intertemporal choice as a tradeoff between cumulative payoff and average delay," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 89-107, February.
    8. Stefan A. Lipman & Arthur E. Attema, 2024. "A systematic review of unique methods for measuring discount rates," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 145-189, October.
    9. Abdellaoui, Mohammed & Kemel, Emmanuel & Panin, Amma & Vieider, Ferdinand M., 2024. "Time for tea: Measuring discounting for money and consumption without the utility confound," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    10. Sebastian Ebert, 2021. "Prudent Discounting: Experimental Evidence On Higher Order Time Risk Preferences," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 62(4), pages 1489-1511, November.

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