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Coordination with Differential Time Preferences: Experimental Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Marina Agranov

    (California Institute of Technology and NBER)

  • Jeongbin Kim

    (Florida State University)

  • Leeat Yariv

    (Princeton University, CEPR, and NBER)

Abstract

The experimental literature on repeated games has largely focused on settings where players discount the future identically. In applications, however, interactions often occur between players whose time preferences differ. We study experimentally the effects of discounting differentials in infinitely repeated coordination games. In our data, differential discount factors play two roles. First, they provide a coordination anchor: more impatient players get higher payoffs first. Introducing even small discounting differentials reduces coordination failures significantly. Second, with pronounced discounting differentials, intertemporal trades are prevalent: impatient players get higher payoffs for an initial phase and patient players get higher payoffs in perpetuity afterward.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Agranov & Jeongbin Kim & Leeat Yariv, 2023. "Coordination with Differential Time Preferences: Experimental Evidence," Working Papers 2023-10, Princeton University. Economics Department..
  • Handle: RePEc:pri:econom:2023-10
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    File URL: https://www.lyariv.com/papers/DiscountingExperiments.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Repeated Games; Discounting; Intertemporal Trade; Experiments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • D25 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing

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