Hyperbolic discounting of future outcomes is widely observed to underlie choice behavior in animals. Additionally, recent studies (Kobayashi & Schultz, 2008) have reported that hyperbolic discounting is observed even in neural systems underlying choice. However, the most prevalent models of temporal discounting, such as temporal difference learning, assume that future outcomes are discounted ex...

The constant rate discounted utility model is commonly used to represent intertemporal preferences in health care program evaluations. This paper examines the appropriateness of this model, and argues that the model fails both normatively and descriptively as a representation of individual intertemporal preferences for health outcomes. Variable rate discounted utility models are more flexible, ...

We propose a theory of intertemporal choice that is robust to specific assumptions on the discount rate. One class of models requires that one utility stream be chosen over another if and only if its discounted value is higher for all discount factors in a set. Another model focuses on an average discount factor. Yet another model is pessimistic, and evaluates a flow by the lowest available dis...

We study the distribution of discounted collective risk model where the counting process is Poisson. For the model considered here, we obtain mean, variance and moment generating function (m.g.f) of the model. To do this, we use two approaches. In the first approach we use classical methods to obtain the mean and variance. In the second approach we introduce some proper martingale and then we o...

This paper extends the concept of a quota contract to account for discounting and for the possibility of infinitely many periods: a discounted quota fixes the number of expected discounted plays on each action. I first present a repeated principal-agent contracting environment in which menus of discounted quota contracts are optimal. I then recursively characterize the dynamics of discounted qu...

Markov Decision Processes with discounted cost are equivalent to processes with a finite, random duration, and hence the discount factor models a (random) time horizon for the life of the process. We elaborate on this idea, but show that an objective function which is a linear combination of several discounted costs (each with a different discount factor) does not, in general, model processes w...

In this paper we discuss a general framework for single component replacement models. This framework is based on the regenerative structure of these models and by using results from renewal theory a unified presentation of the discounted and average finite and infinite horizon cost models is given. Finally, some well-known replacement models are discussed, and making use of the previous results...

The basic model for valuation of firm is the Dividend Discount Model (DDM). When investors buy stocks, they expect to receive two types of cash flow: dividend in the period during which the stock is owned, and the expected sales price at the end of the period. In the extreme example, the investor keeps the stock until the company is liquidated; in such a case, the liquidating dividend becomes t...