The Economic Cost of Impatience The Price We Pay for Wanting Results Too Fast The Economic Cost of Impatience One of the most overlooked economic forces in both personal life and society is impatience. Not inflation. Not unemployment. Impatience. Impatience silently shapes decisions, influences spending habits, weakens institutions, and ultimately slows collective progress. At the individual level, impatience shows up as the desire for immediate rewards — quick money, fast success, rapid recognition. But what feels like speed often becomes fragility. When foundations are rushed, sustainability is sacrificed. At the organizational level, impatience leads to short-term thinking. Businesses chase quick profits instead of building systems. Leaders prioritize visibility over stability. Processes are skipped, and predictability disappears. The result? Volatility replaces growth. Economically, impatience reduces compounding — the most powerful force ...