Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.

<p>Recent research suggests that the long term future should be discounted with a declining discount rate. One such line of research, exemplified by Weitzman [Gamma discounting, Amer. Econ. Rev. 91 (2001) 261-271], shows that the certainty equivalent discoun...

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Main Authors: Hepburn, C, Groom, B
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2007
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author Hepburn, C
Groom, B
author_facet Hepburn, C
Groom, B
author_sort Hepburn, C
collection OXFORD
description <p>Recent research suggests that the long term future should be discounted with a declining discount rate. One such line of research, exemplified by Weitzman [Gamma discounting, Amer. Econ. Rev. 91 (2001) 261-271], shows that the certainty equivalent discount rate is declining when future capital productivity is uncertain. However, in a recent paper Gollier [Maximising the expected net future value as an alternative strategy to gamma discounting, Finan. Res. Lett. 1 (2004) 85-89] puts forward a puzzle that casts doubt on the validity of this conclusion. He asserts that using expected net future value, rather than conventional expected net present value, implies that the certainty equivalent discount rate increases over time. This paper resolves the apparent puzzle by encompassing the models of Gollier [Maximising the expected net future value as an alternative strategy to gamma discounting, Finan. Res. Lett. 1 (2004) 85-89] and Weitzman [Gamma discounting, Amer. Econ. Rev. 91 (2001) 261-271]. In fact, Gollier proves that as the <em>evaluation date</em> moves further into the future, the discount rate at a given point in time will increase. However, given a particular evaluation date, the schedule of discount rates is declining.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:44568bea-5fc2-4b88-9d60-f146d5b9cb8f2022-03-26T15:00:58ZGamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:44568bea-5fc2-4b88-9d60-f146d5b9cb8fEnglishDepartment of Economics - ePrintsElsevier2007Hepburn, CGroom, B<p>Recent research suggests that the long term future should be discounted with a declining discount rate. One such line of research, exemplified by Weitzman [Gamma discounting, Amer. Econ. Rev. 91 (2001) 261-271], shows that the certainty equivalent discount rate is declining when future capital productivity is uncertain. However, in a recent paper Gollier [Maximising the expected net future value as an alternative strategy to gamma discounting, Finan. Res. Lett. 1 (2004) 85-89] puts forward a puzzle that casts doubt on the validity of this conclusion. He asserts that using expected net future value, rather than conventional expected net present value, implies that the certainty equivalent discount rate increases over time. This paper resolves the apparent puzzle by encompassing the models of Gollier [Maximising the expected net future value as an alternative strategy to gamma discounting, Finan. Res. Lett. 1 (2004) 85-89] and Weitzman [Gamma discounting, Amer. Econ. Rev. 91 (2001) 261-271]. In fact, Gollier proves that as the <em>evaluation date</em> moves further into the future, the discount rate at a given point in time will increase. However, given a particular evaluation date, the schedule of discount rates is declining.</p>
spellingShingle Hepburn, C
Groom, B
Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title_full Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title_fullStr Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title_full_unstemmed Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title_short Gamma Discounting and Expected Net Future Value.
title_sort gamma discounting and expected net future value
work_keys_str_mv AT hepburnc gammadiscountingandexpectednetfuturevalue
AT groomb gammadiscountingandexpectednetfuturevalue