Emotions have been theorized to be important drivers of economic choices, such as intertemporal or risky decisions. Our systematic review and meta-analysis of the previous literature (378 results and 50,972 participants) indicates that the empirical basis for these claims is mixed and the cross-cultural generalizability of these claims has yet to be systematically tested. We analysed a dataset with representative samples from 74 countries (n = 77,242), providing a multinational test of theoretical claims that individuals’ ongoing emotional states predict their economic preferences regarding time or risk. Overall, more positive self-reported emotions generally predicted a willingness to wait for delayed rewards or to take favourable risks, in line with some existing theories. Contrary to the assumption of a universal relationship between emotions and decision-making, we show that these relationships vary substantially and systematically across countries. Emotions were stronger predictors of economic decisions in more economically developed and individualistic countries.

从理论上讲，情绪是经济选择的重要驱动力，例如跨期或冒险决策。我们对先前文献（378 个结果和 50,972 名参与者）的系统评价和荟萃分析表明，这些说法的实证基础是混合的，这些说法的跨文化普遍性尚未得到系统检验。我们分析了一个包含来自 74 个国家/地区 （n = 77,242） 的代表性样本的数据集，提供了对个人持续的情绪状态预测他们在时间或风险方面的经济偏好的理论主张的多国检验。总体而言，更积极的自我报告情绪通常预示着愿意等待延迟的回报或承担有利的风险，这与一些现有的理论一致。与情绪和决策之间存在普遍关系的假设相反，我们表明这些关系在不同国家之间存在很大和系统性差异。在经济更发达和个人主义的国家，情绪更能预测经济决策。