The globalizability of temporal discounting
Authors: Ruggeri Kai , Panin Amma , Vdovic Milica , Većkalov Bojana , Abdul-Salaam Nazeer , Achterberg Jascha , Akil Carla , Amatya Jolly , Amatya Kanchan , Andersen Thomas Lind , Aquino Sibele D. , Arunasalam Arjoon , Ashcroft-Jones Sarah , Askelund Adrian Dahl , Ayacaxli Nélida , Sheshdeh Aseman Bagheri , Bailey Alexander , Barea Arroyo Paula , Mejía Genaro Basulto , Benvenuti Martina , Berge Mari Louise , Bermaganbet Aliya , Bibilouri Katherine , Bjørndal Ludvig Daae , Black Sabrina , Lyshol Johanna K. Blomster , Brik Tymofii , Buabang Eike Kofi , Burghart Matthias , Bursalıoğlu Aslı , Buzayu Naos Mesfin , Čadek Martin , de Carvalho Nathalia Melo , Cazan Ana-Maria , Çetinçelik Melis , Chai Valentino E. , Chen Patricia , Chen Shiyi , Clay Georgia , D’Ambrogio Simone , Damnjanović Kaja , Duffy Grace , Dugue Tatianna , Dwarkanath Twinkle , Envuladu Esther Awazzi , Erceg Nikola , Esteban-Serna Celia , Farahat Eman , Farrokhnia R. A. , Fawad Mareyba , Fedryansyah Muhammad , Feng David , Filippi Silvia , Fonollá Matías A. , Freichel René , Freira Lucia , Friedemann Maja , Gao Ziwei , Ge Suwen , Geiger Sandra J. , George Leya , Grabovski Iulia , Gracheva Aleksandra , Gracheva Anastasia , Hajian Ali , Hasan Nida , Hecht Marlene , Hong Xinyi , Hubená Barbora , Ikonomeas Alexander Gustav Fredriksen , Ilić Sandra , Izydorczyk David , Jakob Lea , Janssens Margo , Jarke Hannes , Kácha Ondřej , Kalinova Kalina Nikolova , Kapingura Forget Mingiri , Karakasheva Ralitsa , Kasdan David Oliver , Kemel Emmanuel , Khorrami Peggah , Krawiec Jakub M. , Lagidze Nato , Lazarević Aleksandra , Lazić Aleksandra , Lee Hyung Seo , Lep Žan , Lins Samuel , Lofthus Ingvild Sandø , Macchia Lucía , Mamede Salomé , Mamo Metasebiya Ayele , Maratkyzy Laura , Mareva Silvana , Marwaha Shivika , McGill Lucy , McParland Sharon , Melnic Anișoara , Meyer Sebastian A. , Mizak Szymon , Mohammed Amina , Mukhyshbayeva Aizhan , Navajas Joaquin , Neshevska Dragana , Niazi Shehrbano Jamali , Nieves Ana Elsa Nieto , Nippold Franziska , Oberschulte Julia , Otto Thiago , Pae Riinu , Panchelieva Tsvetelina , Park Sun Young , Pascu Daria Stefania , Pavlović Irena , Petrović Marija B. , Popović Dora , Prinz Gerhard M. , Rachev Nikolay R. , Ranc Pika , Razum Josip , Rho Christina Eun , Riitsalu Leonore , Rocca Federica , Rosenbaum R. Shayna , Rujimora James , Rusyidi Binahayati , Rutherford Charlotte , Said Rand , Sanguino Inés , Sarikaya Ahmet Kerem , Say Nicolas , Schuck Jakob , Shiels Mary , Shir Yarden , Sievert Elisabeth D. C. , Soboleva Irina , Solomonia Tina , Soni Siddhant , Soysal Irem , Stablum Federica , Sundström Felicia T. A. , Tang Xintong , Tavera Felice , Taylor Jacqueline , Tebbe Anna-Lena , Thommesen Katrine Krabbe , Tobias-Webb Juliette , Todsen Anna Louise , Toscano Filippo , Tran Tran , Trinh Jason , Turati Alice , Ueda Kohei , Vacondio Martina , Vakhitov Volodymyr , Valencia Adrianna J. , Van Reyn Chiara , Venema Tina A. G. , Verra Sanne E. , Vintr Jáchym , Vranka Marek A. , Wagner Lisa , Wu Xue , Xing Ke Ying , Xu Kailin , Xu Sonya , Yamada Yuki , Yosifova Aleksandra , Zupan Zorana , García-Garzon Eduardo 
Published: July 2022

Economic inequality is associated with preferences for smaller, immediate gains over larger, delayed ones. Such temporal discounting may feed into rising global inequality, yet it is unclear whether it is a function of choice preferences or norms, or rather the absence of sufficient resources for immediate needs. It is also not clear whether these reflect true differences in choice patterns between income groups. We tested temporal discounting and five intertemporal choice anomalies using local currencies and value standards in 61 countries (N = 13,629). Across a diverse sample, we found consistent, robust rates of choice anomalies. Lower-income groups were not significantly different, but economic inequality and broader financial circumstances were clearly correlated with population choice patterns.