Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Tilburg |
| Publisher | Economics |
| Number of pages | 29 |
| Volume | 2012-054 |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Publication series
| Name | CentER Discussion Paper |
|---|---|
| Volume | 2012-054 |
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Keywords
- littering
- public services
- free-riding
- field experiment
Cite this
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The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (replaced by CentER DP 2013-018). / Dur, R.; Vollaard, B.A.
Tilburg : Economics, 2012. (CentER Discussion Paper; Vol. 2012-054).Research output: Working paper › Discussion paper › Other research output
TY - UNPB
T1 - The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (replaced by CentER DP 2013-018)
AU - Dur, R.
AU - Vollaard, B.A.
N1 - This is also TILEC Discussion Paper 2012-024 Pagination: 29
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Abstract: Field-experimental studies have shown that people litter more in more littered environments.Inspired by these findings, many cities around the world have adopted policies to quickly remove litter. While such policies may avoid that people follow the bad example of litterers, they may also invite free-riding on public cleaning services. This paper reports the results of a natural field experiment where, in a randomly assigned part of a residential area, the frequency of cleaning was reduced from daily to twice a week during a three-month period. Using high-frequency data on litter at treated and control locations before, during, and after the experiment, we find strong evidence that litter begets litter. However, we also find evidence that some people start to clean up after themselves when public cleaning services are diminished.
AB - Abstract: Field-experimental studies have shown that people litter more in more littered environments.Inspired by these findings, many cities around the world have adopted policies to quickly remove litter. While such policies may avoid that people follow the bad example of litterers, they may also invite free-riding on public cleaning services. This paper reports the results of a natural field experiment where, in a randomly assigned part of a residential area, the frequency of cleaning was reduced from daily to twice a week during a three-month period. Using high-frequency data on litter at treated and control locations before, during, and after the experiment, we find strong evidence that litter begets litter. However, we also find evidence that some people start to clean up after themselves when public cleaning services are diminished.
KW - littering
KW - public services
KW - free-riding
KW - field experiment
M3 - Discussion paper
VL - 2012-054
T3 - CentER Discussion Paper
BT - The Power of a Bad Example – A Field Experiment in Household Garbage Disposal (replaced by CentER DP 2013-018)
PB - Economics
CY - Tilburg
ER -