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Watching the embezzler: an experiment on antisocial behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Anabel Doñate-Buendía

    (LEE and Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Aurora García-Gallego

Abstract

Embezzlement is a type of antisocial behaviour that occurs in our daily life. In this study, the importance of watching eyes for reducing this type of antisocial behaviour is examined. The embezzlement game is implemented, focusing on the decision of an intermediary, who gets an amount of money donated by some people to an NGO and decides on how much to give to the beneficiaries of that money. Here we propose that implementing watching eyes can effectively reduce embezzlement. The variable sex is also considered, analysing the sex of the subject and the interaction between the sex of the decision maker and the sex of the eyes. A laboratory experiment with four treatments and a baseline is run, controlling for who is watching you (woman vs. man), and how realistic it feels (static image vs. GIF). Gender differences on embezzlement decisions are significant. Furthermore, significant differences are found regarding the realism of the tool of watching eyes and the sex of it. Therefore, it is relevant the type of tool used in order to reduce antisocial behaviour, as well as the sex of that tool (eyes in this case). Also the sex and other individual characteristics of the sample population matter. All these variables should be considered when defining an intervention in order to accurately reduce antisocial behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Anabel Doñate-Buendía & Aurora García-Gallego, 2023. "Watching the embezzler: an experiment on antisocial behaviour," Working Papers 2023/05, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    • Handle: RePEc:jau:wpaper:2023/05
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    embezzlement game; experiment; gender; visual cues; antisocial behaviour;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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