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Is time inconsistency primarily a male problem?

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  • Jeffrey Prince
  • Daniel Shawhan

Abstract

We conduct a simple experiment, using real money, that tests whether men and woman differ in time consistency. The experiment provides strong evidence of time inconsistency among males, but no evidence of such behaviour among females. Furthermore, the difference between males and females is statistically significant. This result could have important implications in marketing and in efforts to improve intertemporal decision-marking.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Prince & Daniel Shawhan, 2011. "Is time inconsistency primarily a male problem?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(6), pages 501-504.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:18:y:2011:i:6:p:501-504
    DOI: 10.1080/13504851003761806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Katherine B Coffman & Lucas Coffman & Keith Marzilli Ericson, 2024. "Non-Binary Gender Economics," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1074, Boston College Department of Economics, revised 01 Jul 2024.
    2. Therese Grijalva & Jayson Lusk & W. Shaw, 2014. "Discounting the Distant Future: An Experimental Investigation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 59(1), pages 39-63, September.
    3. Kulati, Ellam & Myck, Michał & Pasini, Giacomo, 2023. "Temporal discounting in later life," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 87-101.
    4. Charness, Gary & Dao, Lien & Shurchkov, Olga, 2022. "Competing now and then: The effects of delay on competitiveness across gender," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 612-630.
    5. Eszter Czibor & Silvia Dominguez Martinez, 2019. "Never too Late: Gender Quotas in the Final Round of a Multistage Tournament," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 35(2), pages 319-363.
    6. Dittrich, Marcus & Leipold, Kristina, 2014. "Gender differences in time preferences," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 122(3), pages 413-415.
    7. Vennis Hong & Sage K Iwamoto & Rei Goto & Sean Young & Sukhawadee Chomduangthip & Natirath Weeranakin & Akihiro Nishi, 2020. "Socio-demographic determinants of motorcycle speeding in Maha Sarakham, Thailand," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Chew, Soo Hong & Ebstein, Richard P. & Zhong, Songfa, 2013. "Sex-hormone genes and gender difference in ultimatum game: Experimental evidence from China and Israel," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 28-42.

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