Social Norms and the Law: Why Peoples Obey the Law

The Review of Law and Economics, Forthcoming

47 Pages Posted: 22 Dec 2008

See all articles by Amir N. Licht

Amir N. Licht

Reichman University; European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Date Written: December 22, 2008

Abstract

This paper explores the relations between law and social norms and in particular, the case of legal compliance in groups. Specifically, this paper argues that the rule of law is a social norm interfacing the formal institutions of society with the informal ones. As social institutions, norms should also be analyzed at the societal level - a level of analysis that neo-classical economic accounts have failed to address due to fundamental premises of current economic theory. Theories developed in psychology provide a good working framework for social norm analysis in general and of legal compliance (rule of law) in particular. Extant evidence is consistent with the present argument.

Keywords: social norms, law, culture, rule of law

JEL Classification: K00, Z1, Z13

Suggested Citation

Licht, Amir N., Social Norms and the Law: Why Peoples Obey the Law (December 22, 2008). The Review of Law and Economics, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1319242

Amir N. Licht (Contact Author)

Reichman University ( email )

Israel

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium
952-9-9513323 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http:/www.ecgi.org

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