Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Jawwad Noor
Author-X-Name-First:Jawwad
Author-X-Name-Last: Noor
Author-Email: jnoor@bu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, Boston University


Title: Menu-Dependent Self-Control


Abstract:The literature on self-control problems has typically put forth models that
imply behavior that is consistent with the Weak Axiom of Revealed Prefer-
ence. Thus, while choice is hypothesized to be the outcome of some under-
lying internal con.ict, the resulting choices are perfectly consistent across
choice problems. We argue that such consistency is not to be expected from
agents who suffer from self-control problems because an agent's ability to
resist temptation may well depend on what alternatives are available to him.
That is, self-control may be menu-dependent. This paper generalizes Gul and
Pesendorfer [9] in a way that permits abstract menu-dependent self-control.
Various specializations are considered. The foundations of the model require
weakening Gul and Pesendorfer [9]'s Independence and Set-Betweenness ax-
ioms.

Length:  37 pages
Creation-Date: 2006-03
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status:
File-URL: http://people.bu.edu/jnoor/research/MenuDependentSelfControl.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function:d11
Number: WP2006-021
Classification-JEL: 
Keywords: Menu-Dependence, Self-Control, Temptation
Handle: RePEc:bos:wpaper:WP2006-021