Injurers versus Victims: (A)Symmetric Reactions to Symmetric Risks

Guerra, Alice; Parisi, Francesco

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3133168

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Injurers versus Victims: (A)Symmetric Reactions to Symmetric Risks

Guerra, A. and Parisi, F. (2021) Injurers versus Victims: (A)Symmetric Reactions to Symmetric Risks. The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, pp. 20200101. https://doi.org/10.1515/bejte-2020-0101

18 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2018 Last revised: 30 Nov 2021

See all articles by Alice Guerra

Alice Guerra

University of Bologna - Department of Economics

Francesco Parisi

University of Minnesota - Law School; University of Bologna; University of Miami, School of Law

Date Written: September 28, 2021

Abstract

Tort models assume symmetry in the behavior of injurers and victims when faced by a threat of liability and a risk of harm without compensation, respectively. This assumption has never been empirically validated. Using a novel experimental design, we study the behavior of injurers and victims when facing symmetric accident risks. Experimental results provide qualified support for the symmetric behavior hypothesis.

Keywords: precautions, tort theory, laboratory experiment

JEL Classification: K13, C91

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Guerra, Alice and Parisi, Francesco, Injurers versus Victims: (A)Symmetric Reactions to Symmetric Risks (September 28, 2021). Guerra, A. and Parisi, F. (2021) Injurers versus Victims: (A)Symmetric Reactions to Symmetric Risks. The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, pp. 20200101. https://doi.org/10.1515/bejte-2020-0101, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3133168 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3133168