Habit Formation and the Theory of Addiction
梳理习惯持续假说，并评述理性成瘾与短视成瘾两种研究传统，指出未来消费习惯研究应关注非可分性、多变量记忆过程及理性习惯修正。
In the light of repeated rejections of the Hall (1978) version of the life cycle‐permanent income hypothesis and other empirical puzzles, the habit formation hypothesis has increased in popularity since the 1980s. However, existing formulations of habit persistence do not always perform well empirically. This paper pursues two objectives: (i) to outline the habit persistence hypothesis, and (ii) to review the theory of addiction with a focus on issues of relevance to the theory of consumption. In the literature on addiction, two research traditions are discernible: rational addiction and myopic addiction. The former approach emphasises forward‐looking behaviour and defines memory loss as a univariate process. The latter relies on multiple objectives and highlights the role of contractual behaviour. The paper argues that future research in consumption with habits ought to pay more attention to non‐separabilities, allow for multivariate processes when modelling memory loss and consider rational habit modification.