Incentivized Time Preferences, Level of Education in a Household and Financial Literacy: Laboratory Evidence

  • Calvin Mudzingiri University of the Free State- Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
  • John W. Muteba Mwamba School of Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Jacobus Nicolaas Keyser University of the Free State, South Africa
Keywords: Time preferences, financial literacy, education, individual discount rate, gender, impatient, Experiment

Abstract

 This study investigates the impact of financial literacy, level of education in a household and gender differences on time preferences of students at a university in South Africa. The study relies on a convenient sample of (N=85, female=48%) pursuing a financial literacy course.  The study uses a questionnaire, a financial literacy test and a simple binary choice experimental game that elicited individual time discount rate to gather data. Ten percent of the participants were paid (in South African rands) for their time preference choices by way of quota random sampling. Female university students’ individual time discount rate was found to be on average higher than that of their male counterparts, indicating that female university students are generally impatient, especially those with low levels of financial literacy. Our results (using a Negative Binomial Regression analysis and Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis) show that time preferences of university students aresignificantly influenced by highest level of education in the household. The OLS regression model shows that financial literacy, measured using financial literacy test, significantly influence time preferences for all subjects. The study concluded that patience levels among male university students increase as financial literacy increases. Gender, income, age and family size significantly influence time preferences of university students. Highest level of education in a household, financial literacy and gender differences have a bearing on individual time preferences. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adan, A. & Natale, V. (2002). Gender differences in morningness-eveningness preference. Chronobiology International, 19(4), 709–720. https://doi.org/10.1081/CBI-120005390 Ajzen, I. (2011). The theory of planned behaviour: Reactions and reflections. Psychology & Health, 26(9), 1113–1127. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2011.613995 Alan, S. & Ertac, S. (2015). Patience, self-control and the demand for commitment: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 115, 111–122. Andersen, S., Harrison, G. W., Lau, M. I. & Rutström, E. E. (2006). Elicitation using multiple price list formats. Experimental Economics,9(4), 383–405. Andersen, S., Harrison, G. W., Lau, M. I. & Rutström, E. E. (2008). Eliciting risk and time preferences. Econometrica, 76(3), 583–618. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.14680262.2008.00848.x/abstract Andreoni, J., Kuhn, M. A. & Sprenger, C. (2015). Measuring time preferences: A comparison of experimental methods. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 116, 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2015.05.018 Andreoni, J. & Sprenger, C. (2012). Estimating Time Prefernces from Convex Budgets. American Economic Review, 102(7), 3333–3356. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.102.7.3333 Angerer, S., Lergetporer, P., Glätzle-Rützler, D. & Sutter, M. (2015). How to measure time preferences in children: a comparison of two methods. Journal of the Economic Science Association, 1(2), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40881-015-0016-0 Argent, J., Finn, A., Leibbrandt, M. & Woolard, I. (2009). Poverty: Analysis of the NIDS Wave 1 dataset. National
Income Dynamics Study, NiDS Discussion Paper, (12). Ariely, D., Loewenstein, G. & Prelec, D. (2003). Coherent arbitrariness: Stable demand curves without stable preferences. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(1), 73–106. Retrieved from http://qje.oxfordjournals.org/content/118/1/73.short Ariely, D.& Wertenbroch, K. (2002). Procrastination, Deadlines, and Performance: Self-Control by Precommitment. Psychological Science, 13(3), 219–224. Retrieved from http://pss.sagepub.com/content/13/3/219.short4 Ausubel, L. M. (1999). Adverse Selection in the Credit Card Market, (C), 1–52. Retrieved from http://weber.ucsd.edu/~aronatas/conference/adverse.pdf Bajtelsmit, V. (1999). Gender differences in defined contribution pension decisions. Financial Services Review, 8(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1057-0810(99)00030-X Banks, J., o’Dea, C.& Oldfield, Z. (2010). Cognitive Function, Numeracy and Retirement Saving Trajectories. The Economic Journal, 120(548), F381–F410. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2010.02395.x/pdf Batty, M., Collins, J.& Odders-White, E. (2015). Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Financial Education on Elementary School Students’ Knowledge, Behavior, and Attitudes. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49(1), 69–96. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joca.12058/full Beal, D. J.& Delpachitra, S. B. (2003). Financial Literacy Among Australian University Students.Centre for Australian Financial Institutions (CAFI) at the University of Southern Queensland, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-3441.2003.tb00337.x Becchetti, L., Caiazza, S.& Coviello, D. (2013). Financial education and investment attitudes in high schools: evidence from a randomized experiment. Applied Financial Economics, 23(10), 817–836. Benjamin, D. J., Brown, S. A.& Shapiro, J. M. (2013). WHO is “behavioral”? Cognitive ability and anomalous preferences. Journal of the European Economic Association, 11(6), 1231–1255. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeea.12055 Benzion, U., Rapoport, A.& Yagil, J. (1989). Discount rates inferred from decisions: An experimental study. Management Science, 35(3), 270–284. Retrieved from http://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.35.3.270 Bernheim, B. D., Garrett, D. M.& Maki, D. M. (2001). Education and saving:: The long-term effects of high school financial curriculum mandates. Journal of Public Economics, 80(3), 435–465. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272700001201 Booth, A. L.& Katic, P. (2013). Cognitive Skills, Gender and Risk Preferences. Economic Record, 88(284), 19– 30. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4932.12014 Capuano, A.& Ramsay, I. (2011). What causes suboptimal financial behaviour? An exploration of financial literacy, social influences and behavioural economics. An Exploration of Financial Literacy, Social Influences and Behavioural Economics (March 23, 2011). U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper, (540). Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1793502 Carlin, B. I.& Robinson, D. T. (2010). What Does Financial Literacy Training Teach Us? https://doi.org/http://www.nber.org/papers/w16271.pdf Castillo, M., Ferraro, P. J., Jordan, J. L.& Petrie, R. (2011). The today and tomorrow of kids: Time preferences and educational outcomes of children. Journal of Public Economics, 95(11), 1377–1385. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272711001381 Chabris, C. F., Laibson, D., Morris, C. L., Schuldt, J. P.& Taubinsky, D. (2008). Individual laboratory-measured discount rates predict field behavior. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 37(2–3), 237–269. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11166-008-9053-x Charness, G.& Gneezy, U. (2012). Strong Evidence for Gender Differences in Risk Taking. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 83(1), 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2011.06.007 Charness, G., Gneezy, U.& Imas, A. (2013). Experimental methods: Eliciting risk preferences. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 87, 43–51. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016726811200282X Chen, H.& Volpe, R. P. (1998). An analysis of personal financial literacy among college students. Financial Services Review, 7(2), 107–128. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057081099800067 Croson, R.& Gneezy, U. (2009). Gender Differences in Preferences. Journal of Economic Literature, 47(2), 448– 474. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.47.2.448
Cull, M.& Whitton, D. (2011). University Students’ Financial Literacy Levels: Obstacles and Aids. Economic and Labour Relations Review, 22(1), 99–114. https://doi.org/http://search.informit.com.au/browseJournalTitle;res=IELBUS;issn=1035-3046 DellaVigna, S. (2009). Psychology and Economics: Evidence from the Field. Journal of Economic Literature, 47(2), 315–372. Retrieved from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aea/jel/2009/00000047/00000002/art00001 Eckel, C. C. & Grossman, P. J. (2008). Men, Women and Risk Aversion: Experimental Evidence. Handbook of experimental economics results, McGraw-Hill, New York. https://doi.org/10.1016/S15740722(07)00113-8 Epper, T., Fehr-Duda, H.& Bruhin, A. (2009). Uncertainty Breeds Decreasing Impatience : The Role of Risk Preferences in Time Discounting Uncertainty Breeds Decreasing Impatience : The Role of Risk Preferences in Time Discounting. University of Zurich Working Paper, 412(412). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1416007 Etikan, I. (2016). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11 Frederick, S. (2005). Cognitive Reflection and Decision Making. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19(4), 25– 42. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533005775196732 Frederick, S., Loewenstein, G.& Donoghue, T. O. (2007). Time Discounting and Time Preference : A Critical Review. Journal of Economic Literature, 40(2), 351–401. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2698382 Frederick, S., Loewenstein, G.& O’donoghue, T. (2002). Time Discounting and Time Preference: A Critical Review. Journal of Economic Literature, 40(2), 351–401. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.40.2.351 Fuchs, V. (1980). Time Preference and Health: An Exploratory Study. https://doi.org/10.3386/w0539 Gallery, N., Newton, C.& Palm, C. (2011). Framework for assessing financial literacy and superannuation investment choice decisions. Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 5(2), 3–22. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/8e76d19fc343a195363e67d46d82d982/1?pqorigsite=gscholar&cbl=38872 Giné, X., Goldberg, J., Silverman, D.& Yang, D. (2011). Revising Commitments: Time Preference and Time Inconsistency in the Field. Working Paper. Retrieved from http://cega.berkeley.edu/assets/cega_events/17/Revising_Commitments_Time_Preference_and_Time_Inconsistency_in_the_Field.pdf Güth, W. (2004). Time and Decision: Economic and Psychological Perspectives on Intertemporal Choice. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 33(4), 519–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2004.04.003 Hilmer, C.E.& Hilmer, M. J. (2014). Practical econometrics. data collection, analysis and application.McGrallHill, New York. https://doi.org/9780071318518 Hoch, S. J.& Loewenstein, G. F. (1991). Time-inconsistent preferences and consumer self-control. Journal of Consumer Research, 4, 492–507. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2626842 Huston, S. J. (2010). Measuring financial literacy. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44(2), 296–316. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01170.x/full Imrohoroglu, A., Imrohoroglu, S.& Joines, D. H. (2003). Time-Inconsistent Preferences and Social Security. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(2), 745–784. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355303321675509 Kennedy, B. P. (2013). The theory of planned behavior and financial literacy: A predictive model for credit card debt? ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 84. https://doi.org/Paper 480 Kim, S., Dueker, G. L., Hasher, L.& Goldstein, D. (2002). Children’s time of day preference: Age, gender and ethnic differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 33(7), 1083–1090. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00214-8 Kotrlik, J.& Higgins, C. (2001). Organizational research: Determining appropriate sample size in survey research appropriate sample size in survey research. Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2009.2020494 LaBorde, P. M.& Mottner, S. W. (2013). Personal Financial Literacy: Perceptions of Knowledge, Actual Knowledge and Behavior of College Students. Journal of Financial Education, 39(3/4), 1–30. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23608645 Lawrance, E. (1991). Poverty and the rate of time preference: evidence from panel data. Journal of Political Economy. Retrieved from http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/261740
Loewenstein, G., Read, D.& Baumeister, R. F. (2003). Time and Decision: Economic and Psychological Perspectives of Intertemporal Choice. Russell Sage Foundation, New York. Loewenstein, G.& Thaler, R. H. (1989). Anomalies: intertemporal choice. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 3(4), 181–193. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1942918 Lusardi, A.& Mitchell, O. S. (2005). Financial literacy and planning: Implications for retirement wellbeing. Michigan Retirement Research Center Research Paper No. WP, 108. Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=881847 Lusardi, A.& Mitchell, O. S. (2011). Financial literacy around the world: an overview. Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 10(4), 497–508. Retrieved from http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1474747211000448 Lusardi, A., Mitchell, O. S.& Curto, V. (2010). Financial literacy among the young. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44(2), 358–380. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.17456606.2010.01173.x/full Mandell, L. (2008). Financial education in high school. Overcoming the Saving Slump: How to Increase the Effectiveness of Financial Education and Saving Programs, 257–279. Retrieved from http://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=1M3RUvoG6l4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA257&dq=Financial+ literacy,+Boyce,+Danes+(2004)+&ots=v4D1OObhXV&sig=G-2wRq_GrPZba9ZA44yagKMp7oY Mandell, L.& Klein, L. S. (2009). The Impact of Financial Literacy Education on Subsequent Financial Behavior. Journal of Financial Counseling & Planning, 20(1), 15–24. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=43915999&site=ehost-live Mas-Colell, A., Whinston, M. D., & Green, J. R. (1995). The principal–agent problem,”. Microeconomic Theory, 447–510. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Meier, S.& Sprenger, C. D. (2013). Discounting financial literacy: Time preferences and participation in financial education programs. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 95, 159–174. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268112000625 Mitchell, O. S. (2009). Financial Literacy Among the Young.Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44(2), 358–380. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01173.x/full Németh, K. H. D. B. (2014). An Empirical Study of Financial Literacy versus Risk Tolerance Among Higher Education Students. Public Finance Quarterly,4, 445. Retrieved from http://www.asz.hu/publicfinance-quarterly-articles/2014/an-empirical-study-of-financial-literacy-versus-risk-toleranceamong-higher-education-students/a-huzdik-beres-nemeth-2014-4.pdf Norum, P. (2008). The role of time preference and credit card usage in compulsive buying behaviour. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 32(3), 269–275. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2008.00678.x/full Oanea, D. C.& Dornean, A. (2012). Defining and Measuring Financial Literacy. New Evidence from Romanian’ Students of the Master in Finance. Annals of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University - Economics, 59(2), 113–129. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10316-012-0036-3 Parker, A. M.& Fischhoff, B. (2005). Decision-making competence: External validation through an individualdifferences approach. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 18(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.481 Powell, M.& Ansic, D. (1997). Gender differences in risk behaviour in financial decision making, an experiment analysis. Journal of Economic Psychology, 18(6), 605-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4870(97)00026-3 Rabin, M. (2002). A perspective on psychology and economics. European Economic Review, 46(4), 657–685. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014292101002070 Rae, J.& Mixter, C. W. (1905). The sociological theory of capital. Macmillan Company. Sabri, M. F., MacDonald, M., Hira, T. K.& Masud, J. (2010). Childhood Consumer Experience and the Financial Literacy of College Students in Malaysia. Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 38(4), 455– 467. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-3934.2010.00038.x Sayinzoga, A., Bulte, E. H.& Lensink, R. (2016). Financial Literacy and Financial Behaviour: Experimental Evidence from Rural Rwanda. Economic Journal, 126(594), 1571–1599. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12217 Schagen, S.& Lines, A. (1996). Financial literacy in adult life: a report to the Natwest Group Charitable Trust. NFER. Retrieved from https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/91091/91091.pdf Shambare, R.& Rugimbana, R. (2012). Financial Literacy Among the Educated : An Exploratory Study of
Selected University Students in South Africa By. Feature Article, 4425(4), 581–590. https://doi.org/10.1002/tie Smith, C.& Barboza, G. (2014). The Role of Trans-Generational Financial Knowledge and Self-Reported Financial Literacy on Borrowing Practices and Debt Accumulation of College Students. Journal of Personal Finance, 13(2), 28. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/5c7378f8f8e46cd7d823ba9e979975aa/1?pqorigsite=gscholar Tang, N.& Peter, P. C. (2015). Financial knowledge acquisition among the young: The role of financial education, financial experience, and parents’ financial experience. Financial Services Review, 24(2), 119. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/ba4d2750e5e4c38a618e0fa26ece9a1a/1?pqorigsite=gscholar Van der Pol, M. (2011). Health, education and time preference. Health Economics, 20(8), 917–929. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hec.1655 Wagland, S. P.& Taylor, S. (2009). When it comes to financial literacy, is gender really an issue? Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 3(1), 3. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/aabfj/vol3/iss1/3/
Published
2018-05-19
How to Cite
Mudzingiri, C., Mwamba, J. W. M., & Keyser, J. N. (2018). Incentivized Time Preferences, Level of Education in a Household and Financial Literacy: Laboratory Evidence. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 10(2(J), 103-119. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i2(J).2220
Section
Research Paper