Heterogeneity and Optimal Self-Reporting

Eberhard Feess () and Markus Walzl

Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), 2006, vol. 162, issue 2, 277-290

Abstract: We consider a model of optimal law enforcement according to which self-reporting may be considered in mitigation. After committing a crime, individuals get a private update of their probability of apprehension. Hence, self-enforcing has an option value of self-reporting, since criminals can decide whether or not to come forward after they have learned their types. We show that the optimal fine reduction is decreasing in the heterogeneity of the criminals' types if types are uniformly distributed. For general distribution functions, however, there are countervailing effects, which are discussed in a concluding section.

JEL-codes: D62 D82 H50 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/en/article/heterogenei ... 28093245606777583558 (text/html)
Fulltext access is included for subscribers to the printed version.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mhr:jinste:urn:sici:0932-4569(200606)162:2_277:haos_2.0.tx_2-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
Mohr Siebeck GmbH & Co. KG, P.O.Box 2040, 72010 Tübingen, Germany

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE) is currently edited by Gerd Mühlheußer and Bayer, Ralph-C

More articles in Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE) from Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Thomas Wolpert ().