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Promoting rule compliance in daily-life: Evidence from a randomized field experiment in the public libraries of Barcelona

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Abstract

We study how to promote compliance with rules in everyday situations. Having access to unique data on the universe of users of all public libraries in Barcelona, we test the effect of sending email messages with di erent contents. We find that users return their items earlier if asked to do so in a simple email. Emails reminding users of the penalties associated with late returns are more effective than emails with only a generic reminder. We find differential treatment effects by user types. The characteristics we analyze are previous compliance, gender, age, and nationality.

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  • Jose Apesteguia & Patricia Funk & Nagore Iriberri, 2010. "Promoting rule compliance in daily-life: Evidence from a randomized field experiment in the public libraries of Barcelona," Economics Working Papers 1231, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, revised Feb 2011.
    • Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:1231
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rule Compliance; Field Experiment; Public Libraries.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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