#  Abstract: An Experiment on Time Preference and Misprediction in Unpleasant Tasks 

 



We experimentally investigate the time-inconsistent taste for immediate gratification and future-preference misprediction. Across seven weeks, 100 participants choose the number of unpleasant transcription tasks to complete immediately and at different future dates given various wages. Participants preferred 10-12% fewer tasks in the present compared to any future date, leading to an estimated β of 0.83. Comparing predictions with actual immediate-work choices provides evidence against substantial sophistication, with individual estimations implying that participants understand 9-18% of their present bias. Finally, we find evidence of "projection bias": participants wished to complete 4-12% fewer tasks when decisions were elicited right after completing tasks than before.