January 2020

IZA DP No. 12900: The Cost of Being Too Patient

published in: American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings, 2020, 110, 314-318

We study the cost of being too patient on happiness. We find that the relationship between patience and various measures of subjective well-being is hump-shaped: it exists an optimal amount of patience that maximizes happiness. Beyond this optimal level, higher levels of patience have a negative impact on well-being.