What predicts consistently patient drivers?

The study of public sector bus drivers in India investigated several behavioral and career characteristics to determine what predicts different traits, including the likelihood of a driver being consistently patient.

In this specific population of public sector bus drivers in India, the following factors predict consistently patient drivers:

1. Positive Correlates (Predictors of Patience)

• Job Satisfaction: Consistently patient drivers have higher job satisfaction scores compared to drivers who exhibit other time preferences (consistently impatient, hyperbolic, or patient now-impatient later).
• Pro-Socialness: Consistently patient drivers are significantly more likely to donate the median (maximum) amount in a pro-socialness dictator game. They are around 7 percentage points more likely to donate the maximum amount compared to the reference group. Conversely, consistently impatient drivers donate substantially less.
• Time Preferences: Consistently patient drivers are around 7 percentage points more likely to donate the median (maximum in this case) amount in the pro-socialness dictator game.

2. Negative Correlates (Factors Less Associated with Patience)

• Formal Driving School Attendance: Consistently patient drivers are less likely to have attended formal driving school.

Summary of Time Preference Heterogeneity

In a large sample of 1,509 drivers, 58% were found to be consistently patient, meaning they always chose to wait one month to receive a larger sum in hypothetical scenarios, regardless of whether the scenario was set in the present or the future.

While patience and other behavioral traits were assessed, they generally did not predict key job performance metrics like driver attendance or baseline fuel efficiency (kilometers per liter or KMPL). Additionally, driver patience did not predict heterogeneous responses to performance interventions (training or financial incentives).

Specific Context: Driving and Patience

The research hypothesized that patient drivers might bear fewer personal costs from driving slowly and avoiding speeding, and thus might respond better to training and incentives aimed at fuel-efficient driving. However, the heterogeneity analysis found no significant differential effects of either the training or the incentives intervention based on drivers’ patience. The finding that patient drivers tend to be less impatient (hyperbolic) and more pro-social is also noted.