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

Author

Listed:
  • João Ramos

    (School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology)

  • Benno Torgler

    (School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology, CREMA – Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts, Switzerland, NCER – National Centre for Econometric Research, and CESifo)

Abstract

We study the broken windows theory with a field experiment in a shared area of a workplace in academia (department common room). We explore academics’ and postgraduate students’ behaviour under an order condition (clean environment) and a disorder condition (messy environment). We find strong support that signs of disorderly behaviour triggers littering. In the disorder treatment 59% of the subjects litter compared to 18% in the order condition. The results remain robust when controlling compared to previous studies for a large set of factors in a multivariate analysis. When academic staff members and postgraduate students observe that others violated the social norm of keeping the common room clean the probability of littering increases ceteris paribus by around 40 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • João Ramos & Benno Torgler, 2010. "Are Academics Messy? Testing the Broken Windows Theory with a Field Experiment in the Work Environment," Working Papers 2010.104, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    • Handle: RePEc:fem:femwpa:2010.104
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    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

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dur, R. & Vollaard, B.A., 2013. "The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (Revision of CentER DP 2013-018)," Discussion Paper 2013-037, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    2. 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)," Discussion Paper 2013-018, Tilburg University, Tilburg Law and Economic Center.
    3. Fochmann, Martin & Hechtner, Frank & Kirchler, Erich & Mohr, Peter N.C., 2025. "When happy people make society unhappy: Emotions affect tax compliance behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    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. He, Juan & Zheng, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Do consumers try to solve the air pollution problem themselves? the effects of air pollution on purchase of hybrid and electric cars," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 850-868.
    6. Christoph Engel & Sebastian Kube & Michael Kurschilgen, 2011. "Can we manage first impressions in cooperation problems? An experiment," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics 2011_05, Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics, revised May 2014.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    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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