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The impact of law on moral and social norms: evidence from facemask fines in the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Berneri

    (The Open University)

  • Shaun Larcom

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Congmin Peng

    (National Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Po-Wen She

    (University of Cambridge
    National Sun Yat-Sen University)

Abstract

We measure the extent that a prevailing law can affect moral and social norms. We use variations in facemask fines in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, as it presents us with many features of a natural experiment. Our analysis provides two important findings. First, we find that the legal status of a behaviour, that is whether the behaviour is illegal or not, is important in influencing stated compliance and moral and social norms. In contrast we find no evidence that a variation in penalties has any effect on stated compliance or moral or social norms. We consider these results are important for law makers and society, as both moral and social norms are known to be important drivers of social change, and our results show that legality influences both—thus highlighting an endogenous relationship between the law—and moral and social norms.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Berneri & Shaun Larcom & Congmin Peng & Po-Wen She, 2024. "The impact of law on moral and social norms: evidence from facemask fines in the UK," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 311-346, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:57:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10657-024-09800-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-024-09800-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internalisation of law; Law and morality; Social norms; Non-state enforcement; Motivations for legal compliance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K00 - Law and Economics - - General - - - General (including Data Sources and Description)
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K49 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Other
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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