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  3. American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
  4. February 2024
  5. Intertemporal Altruism

Intertemporal Altruism

  • Felix Chopra
  • Armin Falk
  • Thomas Graeber
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
vol. 16, no. 1, February 2024
(pp. 329-57)
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Abstract

Most prosocial decisions involve intertemporal trade-offs. Yet, the timing of prosocial utility flows is ambiguous and bypassed by most models of other-regarding preferences. We study the behavioral implications of the time structure of prosocial utility, leveraging a conceptual distinction between consequence-dated and choice-dated utility flows. We conduct a high-stakes donation experiment that comprehensively characterizes discounting behavior in self–other trade-offs and allows us to identify different prosocial motives from their distinct time profiles. Our data can only be explained by a combination of choice- and consequence-dated prosocial utility. Both motives are pervasive and negatively correlated at the individual level.

Citation

Chopra, Felix, Armin Falk, and Thomas Graeber. 2024. "Intertemporal Altruism." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 16 (1): 329-57. DOI: 10.1257/mic.20210319

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • D15 Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
  • D64 Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
  • D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
  • I12 Health Behavior
  • L31 Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
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