Arbeitspapier

Deterrence, peer effect, and legitimacy in anti-corruption policy-making: An experimental analysis

In our framed laboratory experiment, two Public Officials, A and B, make consecutive decisions regarding embezzlement from separate funds. Official B observes Official A's decision before making their own. There are four treatments: three with deterrence and one without. We find a peer effect in embezzlement in that facing an honest Official A reduces embezzlement by Official B. Likewise, deterrence matters in that higher detection probabilities significantly decrease embezzlement. Crucially, detection is more effective in curbing embezzlement when chosen by an honest Official A compared to a corrupt Official A at almost all individual detection levels. This 'legitimacy' effect may help explain why anti-corruption policies can fail in countries where the government itself is believed to be corrupt.

ISBN
978-92-9256-181-9
Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2016/137

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual
Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
Thema
corruption
deterrence
embezzlement
laboratory experiment
legitimacy
peer effect

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Boly, Amadou
Gillanders, Robert
Miettinen, Topi
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
(wo)
Helsinki
(wann)
2016

DOI
doi:10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2016/181-9
Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:42 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Boly, Amadou
  • Gillanders, Robert
  • Miettinen, Topi
  • The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

Entstanden

  • 2016

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