nep-cbe 2026-11-09 papers

on Cognitive and Behavioural Economics

Issue of 2026–11–09
two papers chosen by
Marco Novarese, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale

The Conceptual Foundations of Self-Control and its Link to Impulsivity and Attention By Deborah A. Cobb-Clark; Juliana Silva-Goncalves; Agnieszka Tymula; Xueting Wang
Learning from Stories, Statistics, and Narratives By Thomas Graeber; Christopher Roth; Florian Zimmermann

The Conceptual Foundations of Self-Control and its Link to Impulsivity and Attention

By:	Deborah A. Cobb-Clark; Juliana Silva-Goncalves; Agnieszka Tymula; Xueting Wang
Abstract:	Self-control, attention, and impulsivity jointly support goal-directed behavior yet are often examined in isolation with heterogeneous measures. We integrate validated self-reported scales with a hybrid, incentivized behavioral task that synthesizes two canonical experimental designs and adds novel extensions to measure these constructs in a typical work context. Using data from a preregistered four-session online study (N = 443 adults), we characterize the cross-relationships and the relationships between different measures of self-control, attention, and impulsivity and evaluate their contributions to effort allocation over time. More broadly, the study advances an emerging research program that leverages laboratory settings with well-structured economic incentives to examine the role of personality traits and cognitive limitations in economic decision making.
Keywords:	self-control, impulsivity, attention, measurement
JEL:	D81 D83 D91
Date:	2026
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_13111

Learning from Stories, Statistics, and Narratives

By:	Thomas Graeber (University of Zurich); Christopher Roth (LMU Munich, CESifo & NHH); Florian Zimmermann (University of Bonn & MPI for Behavioral Economics Bonn)
Abstract:	This article reviews how different types of information shape belief formation. We organize the discussion around two distinctions: whether information supplies evidence or a frame work for interpreting evidence, and whether it is qualitative or quantitative. Stories describe individual instances in qualitative terms, whereas statistics summarize many observations numerically. Narratives and quantitative models provide qualitative and quantitative frame works, respectively, for interpreting evidence. We examine how learning from evidence and learning from models interact: models shape responses to existing and subsequent evidence, while evidence can prompt model revision. We argue that qualitative information engages associative cognitive processes, such as mental simulation and memory retrieval, which tend to give it a larger and more lasting influence on beliefs than quantitative information. We then discuss implications for strategic communication and the supply of information in media markets, and identify challenges and open questions for future research.
Keywords:	Stories, statistics, narratives, beliefs, learning, qualitative information, models
JEL:	D01 D83
Date:	2026–10
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:441

This nep-cbe issue is ©2026 by Marco Novarese. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.

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