Time for Memorable Consumption

Abstract

A consumption event is memorable if the memory of it affects well-being at times after the material consumption. We develop an axiomatic model of memorable consumption in a dynamic setting. Preferences are represented by the present value of the sum of utilities derived at each date from the current consumption and from recollecting the past.

Our model accommodates well-known phenomena in psychology, such as the peak-end rule, duration neglect, and adaptation trends. We provide foundations for a prominent special case of memory that has the Markovian property. The model is illustrated in application to life-cycle consumption-savings decisions and asset pricing.