Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Golsteyn, B.H.H. Author-workplace-name: Macro, International & Labour Economics Author-Name: Grönqvist, H. Author-Name: Lindahl, L. Title: Time preferences and lifetime outcomes Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between time preferences and lifetime social and economic behavior. We use a Swedish longitudinal dataset that links information from a large survey on children’s time preferences at age 13 to administrative registers spanning over four decades. Our results indicate a substantial adverse relationship between high discount rates and school performance, health, labor supply, and lifetime income. Males and high ability children gain significantly more from being future-oriented. These discrepancies are largest regarding outcomes later in life. We also show that the relationship between time preferences and long-run outcomes operates through early human capital investments. Series: ROA Research Memoranda Creation-Date: 20130101 Number: 019 File-URL: https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/790863/guid-441e7d95-a149-426b-9e28-e09cf49ce1ac-ASSET1.0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf File-Size: 377411 Handle: Repec:unm:umaror:2013019 DOI: 10.26481/umaror.2013019