The behavioralist as tax collector: Using natural field experiments to enhance tax compliance

John List, Robert Metcalfe (), Michael Taylor and Ivo Vlaev

Natural Field Experiments from The Field Experiments Website

Abstract: Tax collection problems date back to the earliest recorded history of mankind. This paper begins with a simple theoretical construct of paying (rather than declaring) taxes, which we argue has been an overlooked aspect of tax compliance. This construct is then tested in two large natural field experiments. Using administrative data from more than 200,000 individuals in the UK, we show that including social norms and public goods messages in standard tax payment reminder letters considerably enhances tax compliance. The field experiments increased taxes collected by the Government in the sample period and were cost-free to implement, demonstrating the potential importance of such interventions in increasing tax compliance.

Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-eur, nep-exp, nep-iue, nep-pbe and nep-pub
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (74)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The behavioralist as tax collector: Using natural field experiments to enhance tax compliance (2017)
Working Paper: The Behavioralist As Tax Collector: Using Natural Field Experiments to Enhance Tax Compliance (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:feb:natura:00391

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