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Impatience and Uncertainty: Experimental Decisions Predict Adolescents' Field Behavior

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  • Matthias Sutter
  • Martin G. Kocher
  • Daniela Rützler
  • Stefan T. Trautmann

Abstract

We study risk attitudes, ambiguity attitudes, and time preferences of 661 children and adolescents, aged ten to eighteen years, in an incentivized experiment and relate experimental choices to field behavior. Experimental measures of impatience are found to be significant predictors of health-related field behavior, saving decisions and conduct at school. In particular, more impatient children and adolescents are more likely to spend money on alcohol and cigarettes, have a higher body mass index, are less likely to save money and show worse conduct at school. Experimental measures for risk and ambiguity attitudes are only weak predictors of field behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthias Sutter & Martin G. Kocher & Daniela Rützler & Stefan T. Trautmann, 2011. "Impatience and Uncertainty: Experimental Decisions Predict Adolescents' Field Behavior," CESifo Working Paper Series 3635, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3635
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    experiments with children and adolescents; risk; ambiguity; time preferences; health status; savings; conduct at school; external validity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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