Asymmetric Obligations
33 Pages Posted: 18 May 2011
Date Written: May 17, 2011
Abstract
We use a laboratory experiment to investigate the behavioral effects of obligations that are not backed by binding deterrent incentives. To implement such ‘expressive law’ we introduce different levels of very weakly incentivized, symmetric and asymmetric minimum contribution levels (obligations) in a repeated public goods experiment. The results provide evidence for a weak expressive function of law: while the initial impact of high obligations on behavior is strong, it decreases over time. Asymmetric obligations are as effective as symmetric ones. Our results are compatible with the argument that expressive law affects behavior by attaching an emotional cost of disobeying the own obligation.
Keywords: non-binding obligations, expressive law, public goods, experiment
JEL Classification: C920, H410, K400
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation