A Continuous-time Tractable Model for Present-biased Agents

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Akagi, Yasunori, Kim, Hideaki, Kurashima, Takeshi
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Akagi, Yasunori
Kim, Hideaki
Kurashima, Takeshi
author_facet Akagi, Yasunori
Kim, Hideaki
Kurashima, Takeshi
contents Present bias, the tendency to overvalue immediate rewards while undervaluing future ones, is a well-known barrier to achieving long-term goals. As artificial intelligence and behavioral economics increasingly focus on this phenomenon, the need for robust mathematical models to predict behavior and guide effective interventions has become crucial. However, existing models are constrained by their reliance on the discreteness of time and limited discount functions. This study introduces a novel continuous-time mathematical model for agents influenced by present bias. Using the variational principle, we model human behavior, where individuals repeatedly act according to a sequence of states that minimize their perceived cost. Our model not only retains analytical tractability but also accommodates various discount functions. Using this model, we consider intervention optimization problems under exponential and hyperbolic discounting and theoretically derive optimal intervention strategies, offering new insights into managing present-biased behavior.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_11225
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Continuous-time Tractable Model for Present-biased Agents
Akagi, Yasunori
Kim, Hideaki
Kurashima, Takeshi
Computer Science and Game Theory
Optimization and Control
Present bias, the tendency to overvalue immediate rewards while undervaluing future ones, is a well-known barrier to achieving long-term goals. As artificial intelligence and behavioral economics increasingly focus on this phenomenon, the need for robust mathematical models to predict behavior and guide effective interventions has become crucial. However, existing models are constrained by their reliance on the discreteness of time and limited discount functions. This study introduces a novel continuous-time mathematical model for agents influenced by present bias. Using the variational principle, we model human behavior, where individuals repeatedly act according to a sequence of states that minimize their perceived cost. Our model not only retains analytical tractability but also accommodates various discount functions. Using this model, we consider intervention optimization problems under exponential and hyperbolic discounting and theoretically derive optimal intervention strategies, offering new insights into managing present-biased behavior.
title A Continuous-time Tractable Model for Present-biased Agents
topic Computer Science and Game Theory
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.11225