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Testing Enforcement Strategies in the Field: Legal Threat, Moral Appeal and Social Information

Author

Listed:
  • Gerlinde Fellner

    (Department of Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business)

  • Rupert Sausgruber

    (Department of Public Economics, University of Innsbruck)

  • Christian Traxler

    (Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods,Bonn)

Abstract

We run a large-scale natural field experiment to evaluate alternative strategies to enforce compliance with the law. The experiment varies the text of mailings sent to potential evaders of TV license fees. We find a strong alert effect of mailings, leading to a substantial increase in compliance. Among different mailing conditions a legal threat that stresses a high detection risk has a significant and highly robust deterrent effect. Neither appealing to morals nor imparting information about others' behavior enhances compliance. However, the information condition has a positive effect in municipalities where evasion is believed to be common. Overall, the economic model of crime performs remarkably well in explaining our data.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerlinde Fellner & Rupert Sausgruber & Christian Traxler, 2009. "Testing Enforcement Strategies in the Field: Legal Threat, Moral Appeal and Social Information," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2009_31, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.
    • Handle: RePEc:mpg:wpaper:2009_31
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Field experiments; law enforcement; compliance; deterrence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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