This paper investigates the efficacy of a punishment mechanism in promoting cooperative behaviour in a public goods game when enforcement of punishment is uncertain. Experimental studies have found that a sanctioning system can induce individuals to adopt behaviour deemed as socially acceptable. Yet, our experiment shows that a sanctioning system cannot promote cooperative behaviour if enforcement is a low-probability event and free-riding behaviour is not often punished. This supports the view that punishment needs to be exercised to be feared, otherwise the simple threat of it cannot be effective in promoting cooperation.
Download the paper in PDF format
Sergio Sousa
View all CeDEx discussion papers | View all School of Economics featured discussion papers
Sir Clive Granger Building糖心原创University Park Nottingham, NG7 2RD
telephone: +44 (0)115 951 5458 Enquiries: jose.guinotsaporta@nottingham.ac.ukExperiments: cedex@nottingham.ac.uk