The Effect of Behavioral Codes and Gender on Honesty

47 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2014

See all articles by Yuval Arbel

Yuval Arbel

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology - Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning

Ronen Bar-El

Open University of Israel

Erez Siniver

College of Management (Israel)

Yossef Tobol

The Jerusalem College of Technology; The Carmel Academic Center

Abstract

We examine the effect of adherence to behavioral codes, as measured by the degree of religiosity, on the level of honesty by conducting under-the-cup die experiments. The findings suggest that behavioral codes, which prohibit lying, offset the monetary incentive to lie. The highest level of honesty is found among young religious females while the lowest is found among secular females. Moreover, when the monetary incentive to lie is removed, the tendency of secular subjects to lie disappears. Given the strict separation between the secular and religious education systems the research findings confirm the importance of education in instilling ethical values.

Keywords: honesty, religion, behavioral codes, ethical values

JEL Classification: C91, D63, Z12

Suggested Citation

Arbel, Yuval and Bar-El, Ronen and Siniver, Erez and Tobol, Yossef, The Effect of Behavioral Codes and Gender on Honesty. IZA Discussion Paper No. 7946, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2396441 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2396441

Yuval Arbel (Contact Author)

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology - Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning ( email )

Technion City
Haifa 32000
Israel

Ronen Bar-El

Open University of Israel ( email )

Erez Siniver

College of Management (Israel)

7 Yitzhak Rabin Boulevard
P. O. Box 9141
Rishon LeZion, 75190
Israel

Yossef Tobol

The Jerusalem College of Technology ( email )

Jerusalem
Israel

HOME PAGE: http://www.jct.ac.il/he/tobol

The Carmel Academic Center ( email )

Haifa
Israel

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