@techreport{f104a53fff2b4224b95a82d6c74958fd,
title = "Strategic Self-Ignorance",
abstract = "We examine strategic self-ignorance—the use of ignorance as an excuse to overindulge in pleasurable activities that may be harmful to one{\textquoteright}s future self. Our model shows that guilt aversion provides a behavioral rationale for present-biased agents to avoid information about negative future impacts of such activities. We then confront our model with data from an experiment using prepared, restaurant-style meals — a good that is transparent in immediate pleasure (taste) but non-transparent in future harm (calories). Our results support the notion that strategic self-ignorance matters: nearly three of five subjects (58 percent) chose to ignore free information on calorie content, leading at-risk subjects to consume significantly more calories. We also find evidence consistent with our model on the determinants of strategic self-ignorance.",
keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, Experiment, INFORMATION, Ignorance",
author = "Linda Thunstr{\"o}m and Nordstr{\"o}m, {Leif Jonas} and Shogren, {Jason F.} and Mariah Ehmke and {van 't Veld}, Klaas",
year = "2013",
language = "English",
series = "Working Paper Department of Economics, Lund University",
publisher = "Department of Economics, Lund University",
number = "2013:17",
address = "Sweden",
type = "WorkingPaper",
institution = "Department of Economics, Lund University",
}