Strategic Self-Ignorance
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Strategic Self-Ignorance. / Thunström, Linda ; Nordström, Leif Jonas; Shogren, Jason F.; Ehmke, Mariah ; van 't Veld, Klaas .
Lund : Department of Economics, Lund University, 2013.Research output: Working paper › Research
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TY - UNPB
T1 - Strategic Self-Ignorance
AU - Thunström, Linda
AU - Nordström, Leif Jonas
AU - Shogren, Jason F.
AU - Ehmke, Mariah
AU - van 't Veld, Klaas
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to overindulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals — a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58 percent) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance.
AB - We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to overindulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one’s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals — a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58 percent) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - Experiment
KW - INFORMATION
KW - Ignorance
M3 - Working paper
T3 - Working Paper Department of Economics, Lund University
BT - Strategic Self-Ignorance
PB - Department of Economics, Lund University
CY - Lund
ER -
ID: 51506967