O'Donoghue, Ted: Choice and Procrastination
World Conference Econometric Society, 2000, Seattle

Ted O'Donoghue, Cornell University
Choice and Procrastination
Session: C-1-24  Friday 11 August 2000  by O'Donoghue, Ted
Recent models of procrastination due to self-control problems assume that a procrastinator considers just one option and is unaware of her self-control problems. We develop a model where a person chooses from a menu of options and is partially aware of her self-control problems. This menu model replicates earlier results and generates new ones. A person might forego completing an attractive option because she plans to complete a more attractive but never-to-be-completed option. Hence, providing a non-procrastinator additional options can induce procrastination, and a person may procrastinate worse pursuing important goals than unimportant ones.


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