← Search

Revisiting the Non-Parametric Analysis of Time-Inconsistent Preferences

Federico Echenique¹; Gerelt Tserenjigmid²

¹ University of California, Berkeley · ² University of California, Santa Cruz

Abstract We revisit the recent revealed preference analysis of sophisticated quasi-hyperbolic consumers by Blow et al. [(2021), “Non-parametric Analysis of Time-Inconsistent Preferences”, The Review of Economic Studies, 88, 2687–2734] (BBC). We show that BBC’s revealed preference test is too lax. There are non-rationalizable data that would pass their test. A basic problem with their test is that it requires finding a certain endogenous elasticity, without regard to the rationalizing utility. Their approach motivates a more stringent test, also based on first-order conditions, that would connect the endogenous elasticity and utility: We show that this test is also too lax. Aside from testing, we also discuss the possibility of recovering model parameters. We show that, even when discount factors are exactly identified, the approach followed in BBC allows for incorrect parameter values to lie in their identified set.

DOI

10.1093/restud/rdaf047

Volume

93 (2)

Pages

926-937

Language

en

Export

BibTeX

Sources

openalex crossref