TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of priming on fraud: Evidence from a natural field experiment

AU - Bindra, Parampreet Christopher

AU - Pearce, Graeme

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - We present a natural field experiment to examine if priming can influence behavior in a market for credence goods. 40 testers took 600 taxi journeys in Vienna, Austria, and using a between–subject design we vary the script they spoke, each designed to prime either honesty, dishonesty, or a competitor. We find that the honesty prime increases taxi fares by 5.5% relative to a baseline, the result of overcharging rather than overtreatment. Priming dishonesty and a competitor have no impact on fares. We find that the effects of priming on behavior are likely to be small compared to information asymmetries.

AB - We present a natural field experiment to examine if priming can influence behavior in a market for credence goods. 40 testers took 600 taxi journeys in Vienna, Austria, and using a between–subject design we vary the script they spoke, each designed to prime either honesty, dishonesty, or a competitor. We find that the honesty prime increases taxi fares by 5.5% relative to a baseline, the result of overcharging rather than overtreatment. Priming dishonesty and a competitor have no impact on fares. We find that the effects of priming on behavior are likely to be small compared to information asymmetries.

KW - credence goods

KW - field experiments

KW - fraud

KW - priming

U2 - 10.1111/ecin.13088

DO - 10.1111/ecin.13088

M3 - Article

C2 - 36247654

VL - 60

SP - 1854

EP - 1874

JO - Economic Inquiry

JF - Economic Inquiry

SN - 0095-2583

IS - 4

ER -