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Online and physical appropriation: evidence from a vignette experiment on copyright infringement

Author

Listed:
  • Michal Krawczyk

    (University of Warsaw
    Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE))

  • Joanna Tyrowicz

    (Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE)
    University of Warsaw
    Institut für Arbeitsrecht und Arbeitsbeziehungen in der Europäischen Union (IAAEU)
    Institute of Labor Economics (IZA))

  • Wojciech Hardy

Abstract

This study employs a vignette experiment to inquire, which features of online "piracy" make it ethically discernible from a traditional theft. This question is pertinent since the social norm concerning traditional theft is starkly different from the evidence on ethical evaluation of online "piracy". We specifically distinguish between contextual features of theft, such as for example the physical loss of an item, breach of protection, availability of alternatives, emotional proximity to the victim of theft, etc. We find that some of these dimensions have more weight in ethical judgment, but there are no clear differences between online and traditional theft which could explain discrepancy in the frequency of commitment.

Suggested Citation

  • Michal Krawczyk & Joanna Tyrowicz & Wojciech Hardy, 2018. "Online and physical appropriation: evidence from a vignette experiment on copyright infringement," GRAPE Working Papers 33, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:fme:wpaper:33
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    online piracy; ethical judgment; vignette experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P45 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - International Linkages
    • P52 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Studies of Particular Economies
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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