Effect of Poverty on Intertemporal Choice and Psychological Explanations

Abstract

In recent years, with global sustainable economic development, poverty is still one of the most pressing issues facing in the world. Many poor families have to face in their daily lives the complex and difficult economic decisions, and often the poor and the rich in these intertemporal preferences are different. Studies show that poverty will impact intertemporal choice through two intermediary paths: cognition and emotion. The poor prefer smaller and sooner choice other than larger and later choice. Future studies may pay attention to: absolute poverty and relative poverty, different effects on intertemporal choice; cognition and emotion, the two psychological mechanisms of interaction and intercultural studies.