The Power of a Bad Example -- A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper 12-061/1

30 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2012

See all articles by Robert Dur

Robert Dur

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Department of Economics; Tinbergen Institute; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Ben Vollaard

CentER, Tilburg University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 3, 2012

Abstract

Field-experimental studies have shown that people litter more in more littered environments. Inspired by these findings, many cities around the world have adopted policies to quickly remove litter. While such policies may avoid that people follow the bad example of litterers, they may also invite free-riding on public cleaning services. This paper reports the results of a natural field experiment where, in a randomly assigned part of a residential area, the frequency of cleaning was reduced from daily to twice a week during a three-month period. Using high-frequency data on litter at treated and control locations before, during, and after the experiment, we find strong evidence that litter begets litter. However, we also find evidence that some people start to clean up after themselves when public cleaning services are diminished.

Keywords: littering, public services, free-riding, field experiment

JEL Classification: C93, H40, K42

Suggested Citation

Dur, Robert and Vollaard, Ben, The Power of a Bad Example -- A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (July 3, 2012). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper 12-061/1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2101538 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2101538

Robert Dur (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Department of Economics ( email )

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Tinbergen Institute

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CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

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IZA Institute of Labor Economics

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Ben Vollaard

CentER, Tilburg University ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

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