In a durable good monopoly where consumers cannot observe quality prior to purchase and product improvement occurs exogenously over time, we show that uncertainty in quality may resolve the time inconsistency problem (even for low levels of product improvement). Higher dispersion in quality...

Aumann (1976) derives his famous we cannot agree to disagree result under the assumption of rational Bayesian learning. Motivated by psychological evidence against this assumption, we develop formal models of optimistically, resp. pessimistically, biased Bayesian learning within the framework of...

Equilibrium exchange rate theories (FEER, BEER and NATREX) make the assumption that the Real Equilibrium Exchange Rate (RER) is independent from internal equilibrium and economic policies. We develop a model in which economic policies depend on the minimisation of an intertemporal loss function...

This paper analyzes the impact of (quasi-) hyperbolic discounting on timing and numbers of births. Using a simple three period model it shows that without the ability to save and borrow hyperbolic discounters postpone births and give birth to less children than previously intended. In the...

We embed time inconsistent agents (players) in non-cooperative games. To solve such games, we introduce two solution concepts, which we refer to as equilibrium and naive backwards induction. When all players are sophisticated time inconsistent, these solution concepts are equivalent and coincide...

Preference for a particular future reward over another one may reverse as time passes - a behavior defined as dynamic or time-inconsistency. The general understanding is that time-inconsistency refers to the cases where a larger-later reward is preferred over a smaller-sooner one at the outset,...

In this paper we propose minority voting as a scheme that can partially protect individuals from the risk of repeated exploitation. We consider a committee that meets twice to decide about projects where the first-period project may have a long-lasting impact. In the first period a simple open...