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Cheat or perish? A theory of scientific customs

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

    (Walter-Eucken Institute)

  • Yvon Rocaboy

    (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)

Abstract

We develop a theory of the evolution of scientific misbehavior. Our empirical analysis of a survey of scientific misbehavior in economics suggests that researchers’ disutility from cheating varies with the expected fraction of colleagues who cheat. This observation is central to our theory. We develop a one-principal multi-agent framework in which a research institution aims to reward scientific productivity at minimum cost. As the social norm is determined endogenously, performance-related pay may not only increase cheating in the short run but can also make cheat-ing increasingly attractive in the long run. The optimal contract thus depends on the dynamics of scientific norms. The premium on scientific productivity should be higher when the transmission of scientific norms across generations is lower (low marginal peer pressure) or the principal cares little about the future (has a high discount rate). Under certain conditions, a greater probability of detection also increases the optimal productivity premium.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Benoît Le Maux & Sarah Necker & Yvon Rocaboy, 2019. "Cheat or perish? A theory of scientific customs," Post-Print halshs-02138617, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-02138617
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2019.05.001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mads P. Sørensen & Tine Ravn & Ana Marušić & Andrea Reyes Elizondo & Panagiotis Kavouras & Joeri K. Tijdink & Anna-Kathrine Bendtsen, 2021. "Strengthening research integrity: which topic areas should organisations focus on?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Doerr, Annabelle & Necker, Sarah, 2018. "Toward an understanding of collaborative tax evasion: A natural field experiment with businesses," Freiburg Discussion Papers on Constitutional Economics 18/13, Walter Eucken Institut e.V..
    3. Carlo D'Ippoliti & Lucio Gobbi & Christian A. Mongeau Ospina & Giulia Zacchia, 2023. "Social determinants of citations: An empirical analysis of UK economists," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(4), pages 827-858, November.
    4. Benoît Le Maux & David Masclet & Sarah Necker, 2024. "Monetary incentives and the contagion of unethical behavior," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 10(2), pages 213-231, December.
    5. Levati, M. Vittoria & Nardi, Chiara, 2023. "Letting third parties who suffer from petty corruption talk: Evidence from a collusive bribery experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Guo, Xiaolong & Li, Xiaoxiao & Yu, Yugang, 2021. "Publication delay adjusted impact factor: The effect of publication delay of articles on journal impact factor," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1).
    7. Pfeil, Katharina & Necker, Sarah & Feld, Lars P., 2023. "Compliance management in research institutes: Boon or bane?," Freiburg Discussion Papers on Constitutional Economics 23/1, Walter Eucken Institut e.V..
    8. Rodrigo Luz Barcellos & Daniel de Abreu Pereira Uhr & Eliana Lemos Crestani & Lígia Mori Madeira & Marcelo Nogueira Cortimiglia, 2025. "The impact of innovation policies on scientometric indicators: a study through the combination of punctuated equilibrium theory and synthetic control method," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 130(4), pages 2185-2212, April.
    9. Anna Abalkina & Alexander Libman, 2020. "The real costs of plagiarism: Russian governors, plagiarized PhD theses, and infrastructure in Russian regions," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2793-2820, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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