Production of (Pleasant) Time by Means of (Unpleasant) Time: Some Notes on Consumption Theory and Time Use

The aim of this paper is to propose an analytical framework, wherein the individuals' choice problem is addressed in terms of alternative time‐consuming activities rather than in terms of alternative bundles of goods and services. In particular, the paper reverses Becker's (1965) proposal to approach the problem of time allocation by transforming the time spent in consumption into foregone earnings. The result of reversing Becker's approach is a model that represents each activity as a sort of productive process allowing to produce pleasant time by consuming 'direct' unpleasant time and the 'indirect' amount of unpleasant time equivalent to the market goods used up as inputs.