I am studying a model that relates incentives (money) and a set of actions.
Let $f(x) = k\frac{x^2}{2}$ be the disutility function of the agent, where $x$ is the level of effort that the agent is exerting and $k$ is set exogenously. I found that if $k > \theta$, $\theta$ is also set exogenously, then the incentive plays an insignificant role at determining the set of actions.
How should I interpret that?
My own interpretation is that the agent has low intention to exert a high level of efforts that even being compensated, they would not exert the necessary level of actions.
Am I right? How can microeconomics interpret the coefficient $k$? I understand that it is the marginal disutility, but it does not sound very practical. Can anyone please give me some reading/intuition behind the disutility function?
Updated: I am thinking of using the work: disutility tolerance but I cannot find any literature on the term.