This paper provides a detailed study of a simple life-cycle consumption model with quasi-hyperbolic discounting and an imperfect financial market. It gives a complete characterization of savings behavior. The joint assumptions of quasi-hyperbolic discount factors and no-borrowing constraints may...

We review the recent evidence on commitment devices and discuss how this evidence relates to theoretical questions about the demand for, and effectiveness of, commitment. Several important distinctions emerge. First, we distinguish between what we call hard and soft commitments and identify how...

We designed a commitment savings product and implemented it using a randomized control experiment in the Philippines. This savings product was intended for individuals who want to commit now to save later, and who were sophisticated enough to engage in such a mechanism. Before offering the...