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Universal Time Preference

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Oliver Rieger

    (University of Trier)

  • Thorsten Hens

    (University of Zurich - Department of Banking and Finance; Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH); Swiss Finance Institute)

  • Mei Wang

    (WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management)

Abstract

Time preferences are central to human decision making; therefore, a thorough understanding of their international differences is highly relevant. Previous measurements, however, vary widely in their methodology, from questions answered on the Likert scale to lottery-type questions. We show that these different measurements correlate to a large degree and that they have a common factor that can predict a broad spectrum of variables: the countries’ credit ratings, their innovation, gas prices (as a proxy for environmental protection), body mass index (as a proxy for health consciousness), and average years of school attendance. The resulting data on this time preference factor for N=117 countries and regions will be highly useful for further research. Our aggregation method is applicable to merge cross-cultural studies that measure the same latent construct with different methodologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Oliver Rieger & Thorsten Hens & Mei Wang, 2021. "Universal Time Preference," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 21-53, Swiss Finance Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chf:rpseri:rp2153
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    File URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3738317
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kulati, Ellam & Myck, Michał & Pasini, Giacomo, 2023. "Temporal discounting in later life," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 87-101.
    2. Kai Ruggeri & Amma Panin & Milica Vdovic & Bojana Većkalov & Nazeer Abdul-Salaam & Jascha Achterberg & Carla Akil & Jolly Amatya & Kanchan Amatya & Thomas Lind Andersen & Sibele D. Aquino & Arjoon Aru, 2022. "The globalizability of temporal discounting," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1386-1397, October.
    3. Despina Gavresi & Anastasia Litina & Christos A. Makridis, 2024. "Split personalities? Behavioral effects of temperature on financial decision‐making," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(3), pages 664-689, August.
    4. Schaewitz, Johannes & Wang, Mei & Rieger, Marc Oliver, 2022. "Culture and Institutions: Long-lasting effects of communism on risk and time preferences of individuals in Europe," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 785-829.
    5. Fetherolf, Raylin & Lovelace, Kelley Bergsma, 2023. "Dimensions of national culture and R2 around the world," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    6. Bouchouicha, Ranoua & L’Haridon, Olivier & Vieider, Ferdinand M., 2024. "Law and economic behaviour," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 253-270.
    7. Kai Ruggeri & Amma Panin & Milica Vdovic & Bojana Većkalov & Nazeer Abdul-Salaam & Jascha Achterberg & Carla Akil & Jolly Amatya & Kanchan Amatya & Thomas Lind Andersen & Sibele D. Aquino & Arjoon Aru, 2022. "The globalizability of temporal discounting," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1386-1397, October.
      • Kai Ruggeri & Amma Panin & Milica Vdovic & Bojana Većkalov & Nazeer Abdul-Salaam & Jascha Achterberg & Carla Akil & Jolly Amatya & Kanchan Amatya & Thomas Lind Andersen & Sibele D Aquino & Arjoon Arun, 2022. "The globalizability of temporal discounting," Post-Print halshs-03903193, HAL.
    8. Burro, Giovanni & McDonald, Rebecca & Read, Daniel & Taj, Umar, 2022. "Patience decreases with age for the poor but not for the rich: an international comparison," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 596-621.
    9. Jorge González Chapela, 2022. "Is there a patience premium on migration?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 2025-2055, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    time preferences;

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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