Public law enforcement under ambiguity

Bertrand Chopard and Marie Obidzinski

International Review of Law and Economics, 2021, vol. 66, issue C

Abstract: In real life situations, potential offenders may only have a vague idea of their own probability of getting caught and possibly, convicted. As they have beliefs regarding this probability, they may exhibit optimism or pessimism. Thus there exists a discrepancy between the objective expected fine and the subjective expected fine. In this context, we investigate how the fact that the choice whether or not to commit an harmful act is framed as a decision under ambiguity can modify the standard Beckerian results regarding the optimal fine and the optimal resources that should be invested in detection and conviction.

Keywords: Deterrence; Pessimism; Optimism; Ambiguity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D81 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:66:y:2021:i:c:s0144818821000016

DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2021.105977

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