[originaltext] Will economic uncertainty make you save more—or spend more? T

Will economic uncertainty make you save more—or spend more? The answer may depend on your childhood experience, a new study suggests. The researchers suggest that while spending led by scarcity seems foolish economically, it may reflect a deeper evolutionary survival strategy.(16)In biology, focusing on short-term gains can be the key to survival under conditions of scarcity.(17)Previous studies have shown that when facing an uncertain environment where the risk of early death is high, organisms ranging from rats to humans tend to mature earlier sexually, reproduce at a younger age and even show signs of aging more rapidly. This "live fast, die young" strategy can be successful under such conditions: "Spending" your energy rapidly when you aren’t likely to have much time to do so will pay off in the form of leaving offspring more often than not waiting will.(18)Studies involving human subjects also support the role of uncertainty in changing risk calculations. In the well-known "marshmallow test"—where children have to choose between one treat now or two treats later—their decisions are influenced by how reliable the delivery of previous rewards was by the researchers. While the implications on financial decisions may not seem as profound as those for evolutionary development, the scientists say their results may lead to deeper understanding of why people seem to get caught in a cycle of poverty. If those who have experienced social hardships are more inclined to take bigger economic gambles, then an environment in which financial organizations are ever-ready with loans, at high interest rates, can prove ruinous for the borrowers in the long run.
16. What role does focusing on short-term gains play in biology?
17. How do organisms react in the face of an uncertain environment with a high risk of early death?
18. What do we know from the research on scarcity-driven spending?