intertemporal substitution

intertemporal substitution

the substitution of present for future production and consumption, and vice-versa. For example, an economy that consumes a large proportion of its NATIONAL INCOME and saves and invests only a small proportion will tend, as a consequence, to experience slower ECONOMIC GROWTH and smaller consumption in future years than an economy that consumes a low proportion of its national income and saves and invests a high proportion. These trade-offs reflect the TIME PREFERENCE of consumers for current as opposed to future consumption.