Title: Time Discounting in Political Behavior: Delayed Gratification Predicts Turnout and Donations
Abstract: Delayed gratification is associated with myriad desirable outcomes, including participation in elections. However, little is known about how procrastination may impede civic engagement. In this article, I provide an explicit theoretical framework. My model predicts that less patient individuals are less willing to vote and to donate. Registration, information, and monetary contributions are costly before Election Day. Yet, the instrumental and expressive rewards of participation are realized later, and discounted by time preferences. In the empirical analysis, I employ incentivized measures from two nationally-representative samples. I find substantively and statistically significant correlations with self-reported outcomes. Results indicate that procrastinators differ qualitatively from more patient types. Specifically, they are less likely to act on their predisposition to participate if the benefits are deferred. This description of the political correlates of time discounting comports with my theoretical predictions. It suggests that behavioral characteristics such as impatience contribute to low and unequal participation.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 16
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