Are public and private enforcement complements or substitutes? Evidence from high frequency data

Gregory DeAngelo, Brad Humphreys and Imke Reimers

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2017, vol. 141, issue C, 151-163

Abstract: A substantial theoretical literature identifies two general approaches to deterring non-norm conforming behavior: public law enforcement to monitor and punish proscribed behavior, and private (community) enforcement to discourage both illegal and legal norm defying activities. Recent papers highlight the importance of both enforcement approaches but empirical identification of their relative effects has been challenging. Utilizing a novel, event-level database from the National Hockey League, we examine the separate and interactive effects of law enforcement (referees) and community, vigilante justice (fighting) on non-conforming behavior. We find that the timing of events is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the different types of enforcement. Community enforcement is effective only when law enforcement is lacking. Conversely, law enforcement actions are effective both independently and in conjunction with community enforcement.

Keywords: Deterrence; Public and private law enforcement; Community enforcement; Norm conformance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H4 K42 L51 Z2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:141:y:2017:i:c:p:151-163

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.06.009

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