Performance of Procrastinators : On the Value of Deadlines

Titelangaben

Herweg, Fabian ; Müller, Daniel:
Performance of Procrastinators : On the Value of Deadlines.
In: Theory and Decision. Bd. 70 (2011) Heft 3 . - S. 329-366.
ISSN 1573-7187
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-010-9195-6

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Abstract

Earlier study has shown that procrastination can be explained by quasi-hyperbolic discounting. We present a model of effort choice over time that shifts the focus from completion of to performance on a single task. We find that being aware of the own self-control problems may reduce a person’s performance as well as his or her overall well-being, which is in contrast to the existing literature on procrastination. Extending this framework to a multi-task model, we show that interim deadlines help a quasi-hyperbolic discounter to structure his or her workload more efficiently, which in turn leads to better performance. Moreover, being restricted by deadlines increases a quasi-hyperbolic discounter’s well-being. Thus, we provide a theoretical underpinning for recent empirical evidence and numerous casual observations.