Intergenerational Transmission of Time Preferences: An Evidence from Rural Thailand

This study investigates factors associated with child time preferences in rural Thailand using a large and unique data set of more than 700 children with rich background information on child, caregiver, parent, and household characteristics. We find that the caregiver discount factor positively correlates with a child’s ability to delay gratification, regardless of whether the caregiver is a parent. Children’s age and literacy ability are significantly associated with child time preferences, while other variables, e.g., screen time, are not. Interestingly, the older the caregivers, the stronger the relationship between caregiver and child time preferences.