This setting lets you change the way you view articles. You can choose to have articles open in a dialog window, a new tab, or directly in the same window.
Open in Dialog
Open in New Tab
Open in same window
Open in New Tab
Open in same window
American Economic Review: Vol. 97 No. 3 (June 2007)
AER Volume. 97, Issue 3 | 
Previous ArticleNext Article
Sign up for Email Alerts Follow us on Twitter
AER Forthcoming Articles
Full-text Article
Download Data Set (323.63 KB)
Previous ArticleNext Article
Expand
Quick Tools:
Print Article Summary Email Link to this Article Export CitationSign up for Email Alerts Follow us on Twitter
Explore:
AER Forthcoming Articles
Measuring Self-Control Problems
Article Citation
Ameriks, John,
Andrew Caplin,
John Leahy, and
Tom Tyler. 2007. "Measuring Self-Control Problems."
American Economic Review,
97(3): 966-972.
DOI: 10.1257/aer.97.3.966
DOI: 10.1257/aer.97.3.966
Abstract
We develop a survey instrument to measure self-control problems in a sample of highly educated adults. This measure relates in the manner that theory predicts to liquid wealth accumulation and personality measures. Yet while self-control problems are typically seen as resulting in overconsumption and low wealth, we identify a significant group who underconsume and thereby accumulate high levels of wealth. In addition, self-control problems are smaller in scale for older than for younger respondents. Those who put money aside in retirement accounts may be delaying access to a point at which self-control problems are no longer important. (JEL D12, D14)
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article
Additional Materials
Download Data Set (323.63 KB)
Authors
Ameriks, John
Caplin, Andrew
Leahy, John
Tyler, Tom
Caplin, Andrew
Leahy, John
Tyler, Tom
