Time Preferences Across Language Groups

Evidence on Intertemporal Choices from the Swiss Language Border

Bibliographic Data

ID9714309
AuthorsHolger Herz (0000-0003-3495-1640, University of Fribourg, corresponding author), Martin Huber (0000-0002-8590-9402, University of Fribourg), Tjaša Maillard-Bjedov (Swiss Distance Learning University, Switzerland), Svitlana Tyahlo (University of Fribourg)
Year2021
Volume131
Issue639
Pages2920-2954
Publication date2021-10-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/ej/ueab025
OpenAlexW3154281496
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited47

Differences in patience across language groups have recently received increased attention in the literature. We provide evidence on this issue by measuring time preferences of French and German speakers from a bilingual municipality in Switzerland where institutions are shared and socio-economic conditions are very similar across the two language groups. We find that French speakers are significantly more impatient than German speakers, and differences are particularly pronounced when payments in the present are involved. Estimates of preference parameters of a quasi-hyperbolic discounting model suggest significant differences in both present bias (β) and the long-run discount factor (δ) across language groups

Discounting · Economics · German · Linguistics · Microeconomics · Patience · Payment · Preference · Time preference · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Economic and Environmental Valuation · Economic Policies and Impacts · Psychology · Social Psychology

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