
Watching TV is a major human activity. Because of its immediate benefits at negligible immediate
marginal costs it is for many people tempting to view TV rather than to pursue more engaging activities.
As a consequence, individuals with incomplete control over, and foresight into, their own
behavior watch more TV than they consider optimal for themselves and their well-being is lower
than what could be achieved. We find that heavy TV viewers, and in particular those with significant
opportunity cost of time, report lower life satisfaction. Long TV hours are also linked to higher
material aspirations and anxiety.