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Dynamic Inconsistency in Food Choice: Experimental Evidence from Two Food Deserts

Author

Listed:
  • Sally Sadoff
  • Anya Samek
  • Charles Sprenger

Abstract

We conduct field experiments to investigate dynamic inconsistency and commitment demand in food choice. In two home grocery delivery programs, we document substantial dynamic inconsistency between advance and immediate choices. When given the option to commit to their advance choices, around half of subjects take it up. Commitment demand is negatively correlated with dynamic inconsistency, suggesting those with larger self-control problems are less likely to be aware thereof. We evaluate the welfare consequences of dynamic inconsistency and commitment policies with utility measures based on advance, immediate, and unambiguous choices. Simply offering commitment has limited welfare (and behavioural) consequences under all measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Sally Sadoff & Anya Samek & Charles Sprenger, 2020. "Dynamic Inconsistency in Food Choice: Experimental Evidence from Two Food Deserts," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(4), pages 1954-1988.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:87:y:2020:i:4:p:1954-1988.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/restud/rdz030
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen L. Cheung & Agnieszka Tymula & Xueting Wang, 2022. "Present bias for monetary and dietary rewards," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(4), pages 1202-1233, September.
    2. Daniel Agness & Travis Baseler & Sylvain Chassang & Pascaline Dupas & Erik Snowberg, 2022. "Valuing the Time of the Self-Employed," Working Papers 2022-2, Princeton University. Economics Department..
    3. Laura Derksen & Jason T Kerwin & Natalia Ordaz Reynoso & Olivier Sterck, 2025. "Healthcare Appointments as Commitment Devices," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(665), pages 81-118.
    4. Hartarto, Romi Bhakti & LeMay-Boucher, Philippe, 2024. "Impacts of Conditionality on Consumption: Evidence from the Family Hope Program in Indonesia," Accountancy, Economics, and Finance Working Papers 2024-03, Heriot-Watt University, Department of Accountancy, Economics, and Finance.
    5. Kai Barron & Mette Trier Damgaard & Christina Gravert, 2022. "When Do Reminders Work? Memory Constraints and Medical Adherence," CESifo Working Paper Series 9996, CESifo.
    6. Alexander M. Danzer & Helen Zeidler, 2024. "Present Bias in Choices over Food and Money," CESifo Working Paper Series 11454, CESifo.
    7. Datar, Ashlesha & Nicosia, Nancy & Samek, Anya, 2023. "Heterogeneity in place effects on health: The case of time preferences and adolescent obesity," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    8. Rachel Griffith, 2022. "Obesity, Poverty and Public Policy," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(644), pages 1235-1258.
    9. Yang, Yang & He, Weijun & Jiang, Ningye & Xu, Shasha & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Yuan, Liang, 2024. "The intertemporal choice study of individual water-saving irrigation construction under three water pricing and subsidy scenarios," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    10. Derksen, Laura & Kerwin, Jason Theodore & Reynoso, Natalia Ordaz & Sterck, Olivier, 2021. "Appointments: A More Effective Commitment Device for Health Behaviors," SocArXiv y8gh7, Center for Open Science.
    11. Ek, Claes & Samahita, Margaret, 2023. "Too much commitment? An online experiment with tempting YouTube content," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 21-38.
    12. Luca A. Panzone & Natasha Auch & Daniel John Zizzo, 2024. "Nudging the Food Basket Green: The Effects of Commitment and Badges on the Carbon Footprint of Food Shopping," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(1), pages 89-133, January.
    13. Alexander M. Danzer & Helen Zeidler, 2024. "Present Bias in Choices over Food and Money," Working Papers 239, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    14. Ashlesha Datar & Nancy Nicosia & Anya Samek, 2022. "Heterogeneity in Place Effects on Health: The Case of Time Preferences and Adolescent Obesity," NBER Working Papers 29935, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Tobias König & Renke Schmacker, 2022. "Preferences for Sin Taxes," CESifo Working Paper Series 10046, CESifo.
    16. Danzer, Alexander M. & Zeidler, Helen, 2024. "Present Bias in Choices over Food and Money," IZA Discussion Papers 17415, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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