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Follow the Leader? Testing for the Internalization of Law

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  • Shaun Larcom
  • Luca A. Panzone
  • Timothy Swanson

Abstract

The internalization of law is said to be a process that involves a change in people’s intrinsic motivation to act in accord with the law’s obligations, so that it is possible to observe imposed obligations become individual choices. We empirically test for this phenomenon by attempting to disentangle the impacts of a legal change (a 5-pence charge on the use of plastic bags) on intrinsic motivation and individual choice. We do so by measuring behaviors and attitudes before and after the legal change and by comparing the impacts across neighboring jurisdictions without the change. Using a difference-in-differences estimator, we find evidence for the internalization of the law. However, using mediation analysis, we find that internalization of the law explains only around 5–8 percent of the change in behavior—the rest being attributable to the direct effect of the charge.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaun Larcom & Luca A. Panzone & Timothy Swanson, 2019. "Follow the Leader? Testing for the Internalization of Law," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 48(1), pages 217-244.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlstud:doi:10.1086/699817
    DOI: 10.1086/699817
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Astrid Dannenberg & Gunnar Gutsche & Marlene Batzke & Sven Christens & Daniel Engler & Fabian Mankat & Sophia Moeller & Eva Weingaertner & Andreas Ernst & Marcel Lumkowsky & Georg von Wangenheim & Ger, 2022. "The effects of norms on environmental behavior," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202219, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

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