Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/202834 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12488
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper studies self-control in a nationally representative sample. Using the well-established Tangney scale to measure trait self-control, we find that people’s age as well as the political and economic institutions they are exposed to have an economically meaningful impact on their level of self-control. A higher degree of self-control is, in turn, associated with better health, educational and labor market outcomes as well as greater financial and overall well-being. Parents’ self-control is linked to reduced behavioral problems among their children. Importantly, we demonstrate that self-control is a key behavioral economic construct which adds significant explanatory power beyond other more commonly studied personality traits and economic preference parameters. Our results suggest that self-control is potentially a good target for intervention policies.
Subjects: 
self-control
Tangney scale
personality traits
intergenerational transmission
JEL: 
D91
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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