Short-termism

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Short-termism is giving priority to immediate profit or reward, quickly executed projects and short-term results, over long term results and far-seeing action. [1] In business and politics, it can work to undermine actions where results take time to mature "... and demand immediate outlays which may not produce tangible effects within any one government's term". [2]

BBC journalist, Richard Fisher links short-termism to "a weakness in our thinking called present bias , which favours short-term payoffs over long-term rewards". [3]

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Present bias is the tendency to settle for a smaller present reward rather than wait for a larger future reward, in a trade-off situation. It describes the trend of overvaluing immediate rewards, while putting less worth in long-term consequences. The present bias can be used as a measure for self-control, which is a trait related to the prediction of secure life outcomes.

References

  1. "Short-Termism | Definition of Short-Termism by Lexico". Lexico Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019.
  2. Pope Francis, Encyclical letter – Laudato si’ of the Holy Father Francis – On care for our common home, paragraph 181, published 24 May 2015, accessed 30 April 2024
  3. Fisher, Richard. "The perils of short-termism: Civilisation's greatest threat". www.bbc.com.