Abstract:
This paper examines the interaction between moral contradictions and time in charitable giving. Applying a simple theoretical framework to two longitudinal experiments with actual charitable donations, we show that moral contradictions become the source of a new kind of time inconsistency linked to a demand for flexibility, rather than the more typical demand for commitment. This kind of time inconsistency coexists with the opposite of kind of time inconsistency arising from temptation to give, which is exhibited by a substantial minority of individuals. Our results reveal that time inconsistency is pervasive and exhibits unique features in the charitable domain.