Dear All,

The Department of Economics invites you to their PhD Defense Seminar on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025.

Time: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

 Venue: AC 04 309

 Speaker:  Mahima Mukhija

 Title: Procrastination and Task Quality: Role of Information regarding Time Needed

Abstract: Procrastination is generally conceptualized as the unnecessary delay of an intended task. It can lead to significant economic losses. There is a huge and growing body of literature on procrastination, and a major segment focuses on its causes. The same can be broadly divided into two categories: internal factors and external factors. There has been ample research in the former category, while there is a shortage in the latter. This work contributes to the scant literature in the latter category by exploring the role of a task-related factor, information regarding the time needed to complete a task, in explaining procrastination. Studies have suggested that errors in estimating the time needed to complete a task may be attributed to procrastination. In my thesis, I investigate the reverse channel, i.e., whether procrastination can be attributed to the underestimation of time needed to complete the task, via a theoretical model and two experimental studies.

The first chapter introduces a basic single agent choice model where he has to perform an intended task to the best of quality before the deadline ends. The case with information regarding the time needed is compared to the one without information, both with and without present bias. The model predicts a reduction in procrastination after providing information regarding the time needed for a task only if the gap between the actual time needed and the time till the deadline is not low enough for the agent to catch up by learning.

The second chapter pertains to a laboratory experiment conducted to test the predictions derived from the theoretical model in chapter one. The subjects were required to complete a typing task over some time, and their actual time allocation for the task was observed. The data supports the predictions made in chapter one. There is evidence of endogenous learning in the absence of full information regarding the time needed to complete the task. Also, there exists a strong negative relationship between delay and task performance.

In the third chapter, the question is studied in a natural environment via a quasi-natural experiment conducted with undergraduate students in a classroom setting. Information about the time needed to complete a quiz during the course varied by quizzes. The results showed a strong negative relationship between delay and performance. Also, the data provided weak evidence of the provision of information regarding the time needed to complete the quiz, leading to reduced procrastination (task delay) and improved performance.