Negative Time Preference & the Czech Sugar Industry from 1896 to 1926

This study examines economic behaviour in the Czech sugar industry (1896–1925) to test Austrian time preference theory. Using heuristic narrative content analysis, it develops an assumption model based on Mises’ concept of positive time preference and applies it to institutional data from industry executive reports. Research identifies 15 instances deviating from the positive preference model, indicating potential negative time preference, especially after 1918. The findings suggest that negative time preference can emerge within institutional frameworks under specific historical conditions, particularly those shaped by Czech nationalist narratives and linked to broader social, political, and cooperative industrial objectives. <br><br>