Simultaneous measurement of time and risk preferences: Stated preference discrete choice modeling analysis depending on smoking behavior

Measuring time and risk preferences and relating them to economic behaviors are important topics in behavioral economics. We developed a new method to simultaneously measure the rate of time preference and the coefficient of risk aversion. Analyzing the individual-level relationships between preference parameters and cigarette smoking, we conclude that current smokers are more impatient and risk-prone than nonsmokers. Heavy smokers are the most impatient and risk-prone, whereas ex-smokers are the most patient and risk-averse. Among nonsmokers, neither age-related nor gender-related differences were found. On the other hand, risk and time preferences are significantly different according to age and gender for smokers.