Unethical behavior in the field: demographic characteristics and beliefs of cheater

Alessandro Bucciol; Fabio Landini; Marco Piovesan

doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2013.03.018

Unethical behavior in the field: demographic characteristics and beliefs of cheater

Alessandro Bucciol, Fabio Landini, Marco Piovesan

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

What are the individual demographic characteristics that correlate with unethical behavior? To answer this question we randomly interviewed 541 passengers who used the bus in Reggio Emilia (Italy). Exploiting the high level of fare evasion (43% without a valid ticket) we find that young individuals, males and non-European immigrants in our sample are more likely to travel without a ticket. Interestingly, traveling with other people correlates with the probability of holding a valid ticket but its effect depends on who the passenger and the others are. Finally, we find that all passengers’ beliefs on fine costs, ticket inspection frequency, and percentage of passengers without a ticket are surprisingly close to actual figures. However, cheaters perceive inspections as more frequent than those traveling with a valid ticket.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
Volume	93
Pages (from-to)	248-257
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0167-2681
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2013.03.018
Publication status	Published - Sept 2013

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title = "Unethical behavior in the field: demographic characteristics and beliefs of cheater",

abstract = "What are the individual demographic characteristics that correlate with unethical behavior? To answer this question we randomly interviewed 541 passengers who used the bus in Reggio Emilia (Italy). Exploiting the high level of fare evasion (43% without a valid ticket) we find that young individuals, males and non-European immigrants in our sample are more likely to travel without a ticket. Interestingly, traveling with other people correlates with the probability of holding a valid ticket but its effect depends on who the passenger and the others are. Finally, we find that all passengers{\textquoteright} beliefs on fine costs, ticket inspection frequency, and percentage of passengers without a ticket are surprisingly close to actual figures. However, cheaters perceive inspections as more frequent than those traveling with a valid ticket.",

author = "Alessandro Bucciol and Fabio Landini and Marco Piovesan",

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T2 - demographic characteristics and beliefs of cheater

AU - Bucciol, Alessandro

AU - Landini, Fabio

AU - Piovesan, Marco

N1 - Published online 19 March 2013

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - What are the individual demographic characteristics that correlate with unethical behavior? To answer this question we randomly interviewed 541 passengers who used the bus in Reggio Emilia (Italy). Exploiting the high level of fare evasion (43% without a valid ticket) we find that young individuals, males and non-European immigrants in our sample are more likely to travel without a ticket. Interestingly, traveling with other people correlates with the probability of holding a valid ticket but its effect depends on who the passenger and the others are. Finally, we find that all passengers’ beliefs on fine costs, ticket inspection frequency, and percentage of passengers without a ticket are surprisingly close to actual figures. However, cheaters perceive inspections as more frequent than those traveling with a valid ticket.

AB - What are the individual demographic characteristics that correlate with unethical behavior? To answer this question we randomly interviewed 541 passengers who used the bus in Reggio Emilia (Italy). Exploiting the high level of fare evasion (43% without a valid ticket) we find that young individuals, males and non-European immigrants in our sample are more likely to travel without a ticket. Interestingly, traveling with other people correlates with the probability of holding a valid ticket but its effect depends on who the passenger and the others are. Finally, we find that all passengers’ beliefs on fine costs, ticket inspection frequency, and percentage of passengers without a ticket are surprisingly close to actual figures. However, cheaters perceive inspections as more frequent than those traveling with a valid ticket.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jebo.2013.03.018

DO - 10.1016/j.jebo.2013.03.018

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VL - 93

SP - 248

EP - 257

JO - Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

JF - Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

ER -

Unethical behavior in the field: demographic characteristics and beliefs of cheater

Abstract

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