Intertemporal Altruism

Felix Chopra, Armin Falk, Thomas Graeber

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Most prosocial decisions involve intertemporal tradeoffs. Yet, the timing of prosocial utility flows is ambiguous and bypassed by most models of other-regarding preferences. We study the behavioral implications of the time structure of prosocial utility, leveraging a conceptual distinction between consequence-dated and choice-dated utility flows. We conduct a high-stakes donation experiment that comprehensively characterizes discounting behavior in self-other tradeoffs and allows us to identify different prosocialmotives fromtheir distinct time profiles. Our data can only be explained by a combination of choice- and consequencedated prosocial utility. Both motives are pervasive and negatively correlated at the individual level.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAmerican Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Vol/bind16
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)329-57
ISSN1945-7669
StatusUdgivet - 2024

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