American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Tripping through Hoops: The Effect of Violating Compulsory Government Procedures
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 16,
no. 3, August 2024
(pp. 290–313)
Abstract
Millions of Americans must navigate complex government procedures under the threat of punishment. Violating these requirements can lead to poverty traps or deepening legal system involvement. We use a field experiment to estimate the effect of failing to appear for court on subsequent legal contact. The treatments reduce failure to appear by 40 percent. Using treatment assignment to identify the causal impact of minor procedural violations, we find no effect on arrests. However, for lower-level cases, violations increase fines and fees paid by 59 percent or $79, equivalent to a high-interest loan, showing that minor procedural violations can be costly.Citation
Emanuel, Natalia, and Helen Ho. 2024. "Tripping through Hoops: The Effect of Violating Compulsory Government Procedures." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 16 (3): 290–313. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220331Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- C93 Field Experiments
- D73 Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
- K14 Criminal Law
- K41 Litigation Process
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