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Surveillance and Self-Control

Author

Listed:
  • Deborah A Cobb-Clark
  • Sarah C Dahmann
  • Daniel A Kamhöfer
  • Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch

Abstract

This paper studies important determinants of adult self-control using population-representative data and exploiting Germany’s division as quasi-experimental variation. We find that former East Germans have substantially more self-control than West Germans and provide evidence for government surveillance as a possible underlying mechanism. We thereby demonstrate that institutional factors can shape people’s self-control. Moreover, we find that self-control increases linearly with age. In contrast to previous findings for children, there is no gender gap in adult self-control and family background does not predict self-control.

Suggested Citation

  • Deborah A Cobb-Clark & Sarah C Dahmann & Daniel A Kamhöfer & Hannah Schildberg-Hörisch, 2024. "Surveillance and Self-Control," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(660), pages 1666-1682.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:134:y:2024:i:660:p:1666-1682.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/uead111
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