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Nonparametric Analysis of Time-Inconsistent Preferences

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  • Martin Browning
  • Ian Crawford
  • Laura Blow

Abstract

This paper provides a revealed preference characterisation of quasi-hyperbolic discounting which is designed to be applied to readily-available expenditure surveys. We describe necessary and sufficient conditions for the leading forms of the model and also explore the consequences the restrictions on preferences popularly used in empirical lifecycle consumption models. Using data from a household consumption panel dataset we explore the prevalence of time-inconsistent behaviour. The sophisticated quasi-hyperbolic model provides a signi ficantly more successful account of behaviour than the alternatives considered. We estimate the joint distribution of time preferences and the distribution of discount functions at various time horizons.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Browning & Ian Crawford & Laura Blow, 2017. "Nonparametric Analysis of Time-Inconsistent Preferences," Economics Series Working Papers 835, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Browning & M. Dolores Collado, 2001. "The Response of Expenditures to Anticipated Income Changes: Panel Data Estimates," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(3), pages 681-692, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sam Cosaert & Alexandros Theloudis & Bertrand Verheyden, 2023. "Togetherness in the Household," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 529-579, February.
    2. Victor H Aguiar & Nail Kashaev, 2021. "Stochastic Revealed Preferences with Measurement Error [Consistency between Household-level Consumption Data from Registers and Surveys]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(4), pages 2042-2093.
    3. Han Bleichrodt & Rogier J. D. Potter van Loon & Drazen Prelec, 2022. "Beta-Delta or Delta-Tau? A Reformulation of Quasi-Hyperbolic Discounting," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(8), pages 6326-6335, August.
    4. Federico Echenique & Gerelt Tserenjigmid, 2023. "Revealed preferences for dynamically inconsistent models," Papers 2305.14125, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2023.
    5. Piccoli, Luca & Tiezzi, Silvia, 2023. "Eggs When Young, Chicken When Old. Time Consistency and Addiction over the Life Cycle," IZA Discussion Papers 16372, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Eileen Tipoe & Abi Adams & Ian Crawford, 2022. "Revealed preference analysis and bounded rationality [Consume now or later? Time inconsistency, collective choice and revealed preference]," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 74(2), pages 313-332.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quasi-hyperbolic discounting; revealed preference;

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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