title: The behavioral economics of drunk driving.
abstract: This study investigates whether drinker-drivers attributes are associated with imperfect rationality or irrationality. Using data from eight U.S. cities, we determine whether drinker-drivers differ from other drinkers in cognitive ability, ignorance of driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws, have higher rates of time preference, are time inconsistent, and lack self-control on other measures. We find that drinker-drivers are relatively knowledgeable about DWI laws and do not differ on two of three study measures of cognitive ability from other drinkers. Drinker-drivers are less prone to plan events involving drinking, e.g., selecting a designated driver in advance of drinking, and are more impulsive. Furthermore, we find evidence in support of hyperbolic discounting. In particular, relative to non-drinker-drivers, the difference between short- and long-term discount rates is much higher for drinker-drivers than for other drinkers. Implications of our findings for public policy, including incapacitation, treatment, and educational interventions, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, United States. Electronic address: fsloan@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, United States. Electronic address: lchepke@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eldred
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, United States. Electronic address: yanzhi.xu@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Yanzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000191:economics; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D060909:Economics, Behavioral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007600:Judgment / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Cognitive ability; Drinking and driving; Impulsivity; Time inconsistency