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An economic perspective on addiction and matching

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

David I. Laibson
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. dlaibson@harvard.edu

Abstract

Economic models of addiction are choice-based. These models push the choice paradigm too far by modeling addiction as rational, normative behavior. Heyman's target article provides a sensible alternative to this economic approach by emphasizing that addiction is characterized by ambivalence and a perceived loss of self control. However, matching may not be a satisfactory platform on which to build this alternative model. Matching experiments do not provide evidence of ambivalence or perceived loss of self control.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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