Bad Habits and the Endogenous Timing of Urges

摘要

I present a theory of harmful addiction in which giving in to an unwanted urge ( consumption) delays the recurrence of urges in the short-run, but increases their long-run frequency. The theory offers new predictions as to how the frequency, levels, cue-dependence, and temporal consistency of consumption evolve during habituation, while uniquely capturing near-term substitution in demand across time. New welfare implications for restrictions on consumption and on marketing are also addressed.