[PDF][PDF] Procrastination, present-biased preferences, and financial behaviors

JR Brown, A Previtero�- Unpublished Manuscript, University of Illinois at�…, 2014 - aeaweb.org
Unpublished Manuscript, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and�…, 2014aeaweb.org
We provide new and robust empirical evidence that procrastinators behave differently than
non-procrastinators in several retirement-related financial behaviors. We define a
procrastinator as an individual who waits until the last day of their health care open
enrollment period to make their plan election. We show that procrastinators are:(i) less likely
to participate in a supplemental savings plan,(ii) take longer to sign up for 401 (k) plans,(iii)
contribute less,(iv) are more likely to stick with default portfolio allocations, and (v) are more�…
Abstract
We provide new and robust empirical evidence that procrastinators behave differently than non-procrastinators in several retirement-related financial behaviors. We define a procrastinator as an individual who waits until the last day of their health care open enrollment period to make their plan election. We show that procrastinators are:(i) less likely to participate in a supplemental savings plan,(ii) take longer to sign up for 401 (k) plans,(iii) contribute less,(iv) are more likely to stick with default portfolio allocations, and (v) are more likely to choose a lump sum (over an annuity) as payout option from their DB plan, especially when the lump sum is more salient. Further evidence shows that these findings are best explained by procrastination being the outcome of present-biased preferences, consistent with the leading economic models of procrastination.
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