Nobody likes a rat: On the willingness to report lies and the consequences thereof

Ernesto Reuben and Matt Stephenson

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2013, vol. 93, issue C, 384-391

Abstract: We investigate the intrinsic motivation of individuals to report, and thereby sanction, fellow group members who lie for personal gain. We further explore the changes in lying and reporting behavior that result from giving individuals a say in who joins their group. We find that enough individuals are willing to report lies such that in fixed groups lying is unprofitable. However, we also find that when groups can select their members, individuals who report lies are generally shunned, even by groups where lying is absent. This facilitates the formation of dishonest groups where lying is prevalent and reporting is nonexistent.

Keywords: Lying; Lying aversion; Whistleblowing; Social norms; Dishonesty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C92 D03 D73 K42 M14 M42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (36)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:93:y:2013:i:c:p:384-391

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2013.03.028

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