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Are Academics Messy? Testing the Broken Windows Theory with a Field Experiment in the Work Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Ramos Joao

    (PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia)

  • Torgler Benno

    (Queensland University of Technology)

Abstract

We test the broken windows theory using a field experiment in a shared area of an academic workplace (the department common room). More specifically, we explore academics’ and postgraduate students’ behavior under an order condition (a clean environment) and a disorder condition (a messy environment). We find strong evidence that signs of disorderly behavior trigger littering: In 59% of the cases, subjects litter in the disorder treatment as compared to 18% in the order condition. These results remain robust in a multivariate analysis even when controlling for a large set of factors not directly examined by previous studies. Overall, when academic staff and postgraduate students observe that others have violated the social norm of keeping the common room clean, all else being equal, the probability of littering increases by around 40%.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramos Joao & Torgler Benno, 2012. "Are Academics Messy? Testing the Broken Windows Theory with a Field Experiment in the Work Environment," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 8(3), pages 563-577, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:rlecon:v:8:y:2012:i:3:p:563-577:n:7
    DOI: 10.1515/1555-5879.1617
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Play with your colleagues, and write a paper about your experience
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2009-11-17 21:08:00
    2. Are academics messy?
      by Kevin Denny in Geary Behaviour Centre on 2009-10-18 18:13:00
    3. Tilltagande nedskräpning
      by nonicoclolasos in Nonicoclolasos on 2010-01-21 18:52:07
    4. The power of peers
      by chris dillow in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2009-10-23 17:45:56

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    Cited by:

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    4. Dur, R. & Vollaard, B.A., 2012. "The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (replaced by TILEC DP 2013-006)," Other publications TiSEM ea9c4972-5447-41d7-ad3e-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. Dur, R. & Vollaard, B.A., 2013. "The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (Revision of TILEC DP 2013-006)," Other publications TiSEM 09b384df-9e66-4a3f-8126-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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