The cost of being too patient

Paola Giuliano & Paola Sapienza · NBER

1 min read Original article ↗

Working Paper 26677

DOI 10.3386/w26677

Issue Date

We study the cost of being too patient on happiness. We find that the relationship between patience and various measures of subjective well-being is hump-shaped: it exists an optimal amount of patience that maximizes happiness. Beyond this optimal level, higher levels of patience have a negative impact on well-being.

  • The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.


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    Paola Giuliano and Paola Sapienza, "The cost of being too patient," NBER Working Paper 26677 (2020), https://doi.org/10.3386/w26677.

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Published Versions

Paola Giuliano & Paola Sapienza, 2020. "The Cost of Being Too Patient," AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol 110, pages 314-318. citation courtesy of

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