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Honesty nudges: Effect varies with content but not with timing

Author

Listed:
  • Benoît Le Maux

    (CREM - Centre de recherche en économie et management - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - UR - Université de Rennes - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Sarah Necker

    (FAU - Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg = University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)

Abstract

We use a ten-round online mind game to determine whether the effect of honesty nudges depends on timing and content. Reminding individuals about the right thing to do increases honesty. Including information that it is possible to assess an individual's dishonesty strengthens the effect of the intervention. Both types of intervention are similarly effective when they take place before an individual has made any decision or after individuals have played five rounds of the mind game. Nudging an individual after they have made five decisions allows us to add personalized information based on the individual's previous response; however, this does not increase honesty. Examining the reaction to nudges based on previous behavior shows that (presumably) honest and dishonest individuals respond by reducing overreporting. The effect of the different nudge content is driven by those previously dishonest.

Suggested Citation

  • Benoît Le Maux & Sarah Necker, 2023. "Honesty nudges: Effect varies with content but not with timing," Post-Print hal-04037884, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04037884
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.01.011
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    Cited by:

    1. Velina Hristova & Kelly A. Schmidtke & Lora Lyubenova & Fadi Makki & Ivo Vlaev, 2025. "Behavioral intervention to increase honest responses using pledges," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Klijn, Flip & Alaoui, Mehdi Mdaghri & Vorsatz, Marc, 2025. "Online academic exams: Does multiplicity of exam versions mitigate cheating?," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    3. Rami F. Mustafa, 2024. "Shove Less, Nudge More: Stakeholders' Perspective from Writing Classrooms," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(4), pages 186-186, November.
    4. Ekström, Mathias & Bjorvatn, Kjetil & Mota, Pablo Soto & Sjåstad, Hallgeir, 2025. "Making a promise increases the moral cost of lying: Evidence from Norway and the United States," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. Eldad Yechiam & Dana Zeif, 2024. "Calling “Gevald”: on the emergence of negative election forecasts in partisan communications," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 27(4), pages 787-819, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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