Changes in Time Preference Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Autor: Inyong Shin
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: East Asian Economic Review, Vol 27, Iss 3, Pp 179-211 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2508-1640
2508-1667
DOI: 10.11644/KIEP.EAER.2023.27.3.422
Popis: This paper investigates the relationship between the spread of COVID-19 and time preference. In contrast to previous studies that compared time preferences before and during the pandemic, this study estimates time preferences during the COVID-19 period using eight surveys conducted over two years. Additionally, a regression analysis was conducted on the number of new COVID-19 cases and the time elapsed since the outbreak, with estimated time preference as the dependent variable. Despite a small sample size, statistically significant results were obtained, showing that as the number of new cases increased, time preference also increased. However, this effect diminished over time and disappeared by the end of 2021 in Japan. This may be due to the public’s growing familiarity with the risks of COVID-19 and the availability of vaccines and treatments. Despite a significant increase in new cases in 2022, time preference was lower than immediately after the outbreak, and this was reflected in private investments. Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19, private investments decreased by 12% compared to the previous year, but the investments are returning in 2022 despite the surge in the number of cases. The trend of time preference explains the trend of Japanese private investments very well.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals