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

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The effect of priming on fraud: Evidence from a natural field experiment. / Bindra, Parampreet Christopher; Pearce, Graeme.
In: Economic Inquiry, Vol. 60, No. 4, 10.2022, p. 1854-1874.

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Bindra PC, Pearce G. The effect of priming on fraud: Evidence from a natural field experiment. Economic Inquiry. 2022 Oct;60(4):1854-1874. Epub 2022 Apr 30. doi: 10.1111/ecin.13088

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Bindra, Parampreet Christopher ; Pearce, Graeme. / The effect of priming on fraud: Evidence from a natural field experiment. In: Economic Inquiry. 2022 ; Vol. 60, No. 4. pp. 1854-1874.

RIS

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 -