Essay

Comparing Time Preferences

Consider two individuals, Alex and Ben. Their preferences for consumption today versus consumption in one year are such that all points on a single indifference curve provide them with the same level of satisfaction.

  • Alex feels equally satisfied receiving $100 in one year as they do receiving $75 today.
  • Ben feels equally satisfied receiving $100 in one year as they do receiving $60 today.

Analyze the preferences of both individuals. Which individual demonstrates a stronger preference for present consumption over future consumption? Justify your conclusion by explaining how the relationship between the present and future values for each person reveals their level of impatience.

0

1

Updated 2025-08-13

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

CORE Econ

Economics

Social Science

Empirical Science

Science

Economy

Introduction to Microeconomics Course

The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ

Ch.9 Lenders and borrowers and differences in wealth - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ

Analysis in Bloom's Taxonomy

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology

Related