Mixing Carrots with Sticks

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Positive Incentives

Bibliographic Data

ID3917298
AuthorsHan Dorussen (0000-0002-3458-0555, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume38
Issue2
Pages251-262
Publication date2001-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Peace Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3433 • E-ISSN: 1460-3578
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022343301038002009
OpenAlexW2043183856
LanguageEN
Citations received26
References cited11

Several recent studies argue that positive incentives have become important policy instruments allowing states to meet their post-Cold War security challenges. The leading research question is the effectiveness and efficiency of incentives relative to (economic) sanctions. Whereas earlier work often treated incentives merely as weak sanctions, these studies present a theoretical perspective in which incentives become powerful instruments to turn conflict into cooperation. The essay is constructed around four major issues: (1) the comparison of the effectiveness of incentives and sanctions, (2) the identification of conditions under which incentives are effective, (3) the use of the comparative case studies method to test these conditions, and (4) the identification of policy implications. A principal argument in this essay is that incentives need to be distinguished very carefully from sanctions. Moreover, none of the studies derives the conditions under which we expect incentives to matter more than sanctions. The books are good examples of both the strengths and weaknesses of the comparative case studies method. Expert knowledge provides valuable insight into the various cases, but lack of logical and inferential constraint remains a problem. Nevertheless, the studies offer important policy lessons for the successful implementation of incentives. This essay suggests various ways in which research on sanctions and incentives could progress. In particular, older work by Knorr (1975) already proposes how sanctions and incentives can be distinguished. Finally, it is indicated how selection bias could have been avoided

Argument (complex analysis) · Computer security · Economics · Identification (biology) · Incentive · Law and economics · Microeconomics · Political science · Positive economics · Principal (computer security) · Public economics · Sanctions · Computer Science · Corruption and Economic Development · Economic Sanctions and International Relations · Law · Political Conflict and Governance

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