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Enhancing garbage fee compliance: Insights from a Slovak municipality

Author

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  • Caplanova Anetta

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Finance, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemska cesta 1, 85235 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Sirakovova Eva

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Finance, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemska cesta 1, 85235 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Szakadatova Estera

    (Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics and Finance, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemska cesta 1, 85235 Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

Tax avoidance and tax evasion remain critical challenges for central or local governments and municipalities. This non-compliance also represents an ethical issue since individuals who benefit from publicly provided services do not contribute to their financing as they are legally required. The study aimed to test whether the use of behavioural interventions would reduce the number of non-payers of the garbage collection fee in the city of Hlohovec, Slovakia. The experiment was carried out by distributing leaflets to households with permanent residence in Hlohovec. The subjects of the experiment were randomly divided into three groups. Households in the control group (number of households is 1,718) did not receive any leaflets, households in the first intervention group (number of households is 1,721) received a leaflet containing a social norm, and households in the second intervention group (number of households is 1,625) received a leaflet containing a deterrent message. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions were used to analyse the data. The results showed that using a social norm did not significantly increase the number of garbage collection fee payers. At the same time, leaflets with deterrent messages led to an increase in outstanding debt. These results suggest that people reacted unfavorably to the perceived threat (deterrent message), and the opposite effect occurred, i.e. this type of intervention led to an increase in the number of non-payers of garbage collection fee.

Suggested Citation

  • Caplanova Anetta & Sirakovova Eva & Szakadatova Estera, 2024. "Enhancing garbage fee compliance: Insights from a Slovak municipality," Economics and Business Review, Sciendo, vol. 10(2), pages 143-164.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:ecobur:v:10:y:2024:i:2:p:143-164:n:1006
    DOI: 10.18559/ebr.2024.2.1180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter John & Toby Blume, 2018. "How best to nudge taxpayers? The impact of message simplification and descriptive social norms on payment rates in a central London local authority," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 1(1).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    behavioural interventions; nudge; randomised controlled trial; garbage fee collection; local government; social norm; deterrence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • R28 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Government Policy
    • R51 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Finance in Urban and Rural Economies

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