Risk aversion and time preference among elderly: does frailty matter?

Frailty among older adults is a critical determinant of economic choices and individual behavior. While risk and time preferences are key factors in decision-making, their relationship with frailty remains unexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining how frailty influences attitudes toward risk and intertemporal choices. We collected data from older adults in two regions of Côte d'Ivoire, using a gambling-based method to measure risk and time preferences, along with a 30-item frailty questionnaire. A copula-based endogenous treatment effect model is employed to account for potential endogeneity between frailty and behavioral outcomes. Our findings show that frailty makes older adults less risk-averse and more focused on immediate rewards. These results suggest that reducing frailty could also influence economic choices and improve long-term well-being for aging populations.