Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Deterrence and Moral Persuasion Effects on Corporate Tax Compliance

Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Bibliographic Data

ID9680171
AuthorsBarak Ariel (0000-0002-6912-2546, University of Cambridge, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume50
Issue1
Pages27-69
Publication date2012-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCriminology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-1384 • E-ISSN: 1745-9125
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1745-9125.2011.00256.x
OpenAlexW2127538362
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited84

Previous studies on tax compliance have focused primarily on the tax‐reporting behavior of individuals. This study reports results from a randomized field test of the effects of deterrence and moral persuasion on the tax‐reporting behavior of 4,395 corporations in Israel. Two experimental groups received tax letters, one conveying a deterrent message and the other a moral persuasion message. Three types of measures are used to evaluate compliance based on the magnitude of the difference‐in‐differences of means in 1) gross sales values reported to the authority, 2) tax dollars paid to the authority, and 3) tax deductions. Overall, both deterrence and moral persuasion approaches do not produce statistically significant greater compliance compared with control conditions. These results do not support the ability of a policy of sending tax letters to increase substantively the reporting of true tax liability or tax payments by corporations. However, these results also show that moral persuasion can be counterproductive: Corporations in this experimental group show an increase rather than a decrease in tax deductions, which translates into loss of state revenues. The implications for theory, research, and tax policy are discussed

Business · Compliance (psychology · Deterrence (psychology · Deterrence theory · Economics · Indirect tax · Law and economics · Persuasion · Political science · Public economics · Tax reform · Corporate Taxation and Avoidance · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · Taxation and Compliance Studies

  • The behavioralist as tax collector

    Open Access•Michael Hallsworth, John A List et al.•Journal of Public Economics•2017

  • Human, institutional, political and technological factors involved in a public health approach to frauds against individuals

    Open Access•Michael Levi•European Journal of Criminology•2025

  • Police-Led Interventions for Deterring Organized Crime

    Open Access•John Denley, Barak Ariel et al.•Justice Quarterly•2025

  • The Behavioral Impact of Moral Appeals

    Open Access•Sylvia Y Xu, Laetitia B Mulder et al.•Personality and Social Psychology…•2026

  • Is transparency a blessing or a curse? An experimental horse race between accountability and extortionary corruption

    Open Access•Christoph Engel, Eyal Zamir•International Review of Law and…•2024

  • Corporate delinquency and corporate sanctions

    Ralf Kölbel•Monatsschrift für Kriminologie…•2025

  • Testing the Effects of Deterrence Communications on Illegal Marijuana Dealing

    Open Access•Ha-Neul Yim, Jaeyong Choi et al.•Crime & Delinquency•2024

  • Trust in government and electronic levy payment decisions in Ghana

    Open Access•Benjamin Amoah, Anthony Amoah et al.•Urban Governance•2023

  • Sanctions, Perceptions, and Crime

    R Apel•Annual Review of Criminology•2021

  • Behavioural prompts to increase early filing of tax returns

    Open Access•Ruth Persian, Gitarani Prastuti et al.•Behavioural Public Policy•2022

  • Comparison Conditions in Research on Persuasive Message Effects

    Daniel J O’keefe•Communication Methods and Measures•2023

  • Disaggregated behavioral responses to willingness‐to‐pay for the electronic levy in Ghana

    Open Access•Edmund Kwablah, Anthony Amoah et al.•Politics & Policy•2024

  • Paying Restitution

    Open Access•R Barry Ruback, Andrew S Gladfelter et al.•Criminology & Public Policy•2014

  • Using Wearable Technology to Increase Police Legitimacy in Uruguay

    Open Access•Barak Ariel, Renée J Mitchell et al.•Law & Social Inquiry•2019

  • Power, justice, and trust

    Open Access•Lemessa Bayissa Gobena, Marius Van Dijke•Journal of Economic Psychology•2016

  • The impact of powerful authorities and trustful taxpayers

    Open Access•Katharina Gangl, Eva Hofmann et al.•Policy Studies•2020

  • Appealing, threatening or nudging? Assessing various communication strategies to promote tax compliance

    Open Access•Andris Saulitis, Philipp Chapkovski•Public Choice•2025

  • Nudging for Tax Compliance

    Open Access•Armenak Antinyan, Zareh Asatryan•The Economic Journal•2025

  • Restrictive Deterrent Effects of a Warning Banner in an Attacked Computer System

    Open Access•David Maimon, Mariel Alper et al.•Criminology•2014

  • Taxpayers do not always follow the crowd

    Open Access•Janet Kleber, Katharina Gangl et al.•Acta Psychologica•2025

  • State coercion, moral attitudes, and tax compliance

    Open Access•B G Robbins, Edgar Kiser•Social Science Research•2020

  • The Effects of Financial Rewards and Penalties on Tax Evasion and Whistleblowing Intentions in Accra, Ghana

    Jones Adjei Ntiamoah, Cletus Agyenim-Boateng et al.•Public Integrity•2025

  • EnhancingTax Compliance through Coercive and Legitimate Power ofTax Authorities by Concurrently Diminishing or Facilitating Trust inTax Authorities

    Open Access•Eva Hofmann, Katharina Gangl et al.•Law & Policy•2014

  • Property Tax Compliance in Tanzania

    Matthew Collins, Matthew Collin et al.•Economic Development and Cultural…•2025

  • Tax Compliance in Rwanda

    Open Access•Giulia Mascagni, Christopher Nell•Economic Development and Cultural…•2022

  • Income Tax Payers Are Not All the Same

    Fabrizio Santoro•Economic Development and Cultural…•2024

  • Tax Morale

    Open Access•Erzo F P Luttmer, Monica Singhal•The Journal of Economic…•2014

  • How to reduce discrimination? Evidence from a field experiment in amateur soccer

    Open Access•Robert Dur, Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez et al.•New Community•2023

  • The Social Psychology of Procedural Justice

    Open Access•A Lind, E Allan Lind et al.•Social Psychology of Procedural…•1988

  • Tax Compliance and Tax Morale

    Benno Torgler•Tax compliance and tax morale•2007

  • Responsive Regulation

    Ian Ayres, John Braithwaite•Responsive regulation•1992

  • Defiance in Taxation and Governance

    Valerie Braithwaite•Defiance in Taxation and Governance•2009

  • Do Normative Appeals Affect Tax Compliance? Evidence from a Controlled Experiment in Minnesota

    Marsha Blumenthal, Charles Christian et al.•National Tax Journal•2001

  • Respect and Cooperation in Social Dilemmas

    Open Access•David De Cremer•Personality and Social Psychology…•2002

  • On Legal Sanctions

    Richard D Schwartz, Sonya Orleans•The University of Chicago Law…•1967

  • Taxpayer response to an increased probability of audit

    Open Access•Joel Slemrod, Marsha Blumenthal et al.•Journal of Public Economics•2001

  • The “Criminology of the Corporation” and Regulatory Enforcement Strategies

    Robert A Kagan, John T Scholz•Enforcing Regulation•1984

  • Income tax evasion

    Open Access•Shlomo Yitzhaki•Journal of Public Economics•1974

  • Income tax evasion

    Open Access•Michael Allingham, Michael G Allingham et al.•Journal of Public Economics•1972

  • G*Power 3

    Open Access•Franz Faul, Edgar Erdfelder et al.•Behavior Research Methods•2007

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls•Theory of Justice•1971

  • Why People Obey the Law

    T R Tyler•Why People Obey the Law•2006

  • The Sage Handbook of Criminological Theory

    Eugene Mclaughlin, Tim Newburn•The Sage Handbook of Criminological…•2010

  • Defiance, Deterrence, and Irrelevance

    Open Access•Lawrence W Sherman•Journal of Research in Crime and…•1993

  • The Legitimation of Power

    Open Access•David Beetham•The legitimation of power.•1991

  • The Legitimation of Power

    Open Access•David Beetham•Legitimation of Power•2013

  • Sherman vs Sherman

    Open Access•Nick Tilley•Criminology & Criminal Justice•2009

  • Serious tax fraud and noncompliance

    Open Access•Michael Levi•Criminology & Public Policy•2010

  • Fairness matters—more than deterrence

    Open Access•Paul Leighton•Criminology & Public Policy•2010

  • Is problem‐oriented policing effective in reducing crime and disorder

    Open Access•David Weisburd, Cody W Telep et al.•Criminology & Public Policy•2010

  • Message Properties, Mediating States, and Manipulation Checks

    Open Access•Daniel J O’keefe•Communication Theory•2003

  • The Origins and Consequences of Procedural Fairness

    Open Access•Neil Vidmar•Law & Social Inquiry•1990

  • Police Crackdowns

    Lawrence W Sherman•Crime and Justice•1990

  • Criminal Deterrence Research at the Outset of the Twenty-First Century

    Daniel S Nagin•Crime and Justice•1998

  • Economists’ Contribution to the Study of Crime and the Criminal Justice System

    Shawn D Bushway, Shawn Bushway et al.•Crime and Justice•2008

  • Design Sensitivity in Criminal Justice Experiments

    David Weisburd, Anthony Petrosino et al.•Crime and Justice•1993

  • Misperceptions of social norms about tax compliance

    Open Access•Michael Wenzel•Journal of Economic Psychology•2005

  • Enforced versus voluntary tax compliance

    Open Access•Erich Kirchler, Erik Hoelzl et al.•Journal of Economic Psychology•2008

  • Culture differences and tax morale in the United States and in Europe

    Open Access•James Alm, Benno Torgler•Journal of Economic Psychology•2006

  • The Importance of Procedural Justice in Securing Compliance

    Open Access•Kristina Murphy•Australian Journal of Social Issues•2003

  • Social Learning and Social Structure

    Ross L Matsueda, Ronald L Akers•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1999

  • White-Collar Crime and Criminal Careers

    Open Access•J Pete Blair, David Weisburd et al.•White-Collar Crime and Criminal…•2001

  • Design Sensitivity

    Scott R Eliason, Mark W Lipsey•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1991

  • Sanctions and Social Deviance

    Linda E Saltzman, Charles R Tittle•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1981

  • The Social Psychology of Procedural Justice

    Ronald L Cohen, Ronald Cohen et al.•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1989

  • Restorative Justice and Procedural Justice

    Open Access•T R Tyler•Journal of Social Issues•2006

  • Crime and Punishment

    Gary S Becker•Journal of Political Economy•1968

  • Methodological Quality Standards for Evaluation Research

    Open Access•David P Farrington•The Annals of the American…•2003

  • When can we Conclude that Treatments or Programs “Don’t Work”

    Open Access•David Weisburd, CYNTHIA LUM et al.•The Annals of the American…•2003

  • Why have Educational Evaluators Chosen Not to Do Randomized Experiments

    Open Access•Thomas D Cook•The Annals of the American…•2003

  • Toward an Evidence-Based Approach to Preventing Crime

    Open Access•Brandon C Welsh, David P Farrington•The Annals of the American…•2001

  • Criminological Theories and Regulatory Compliance

    Open Access•Toni Makkai, John Braithwaite•Criminology•1991

  • Police Disrespect Toward the Public

    Open Access•Stephen D Mastrofski, Michael D Reisig et al.•Criminology•2002

  • Moving Choice to Center Stage in Criminological Research and Theory

    Open Access•Daniel S Nagin•Criminology•2007

  • Deterring Corporate Crime

    Open Access•Sally S Simpson, CHRISTOPHER S KOPER•Criminology•1992

  • Ideology, Hegemony, and Empiricism

    Frank Pearce, Steve Tomb et al.•The British Journal of Criminology•1990

  • Noneconomic Motives Predicting Cooperation in Public Good Dilemmas

    Open Access•David De Cremer•Social Justice Research•2003

  • Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic reinforcement, and inequity

    Edward L Deci•Journal of Personality and Social…•1972

  • Trust in Authorities and Power to Enforce Tax Compliance

    Open Access•Ingrid Wahl, Barbara Kastlunger et al.•Law & Policy•2010

  • Tax Compliance as the Result of a Psychological Tax Contract

    Open Access•Lars P Feld, Bruno S Frey•Law & Policy•2007

  • Appeals to Civic Virtue Versus Attention to Self-Interest

    Open Access•Kathleen M Mcgraw, John T Scholz•Law & Society Review•1991

  • Understanding Taxpaying Behavior

    Open Access•Kent W Smith, Karyl A Kinsey•Law & Society Review•1987

  • Significance test or effect size

    Siu L Chow•Psychological Bulletin•1988

  • Sanction Threats and Appeals to Morality

    Open Access•Raymond Paternoster, Sally S Simpson et al.•Law & Society Review•1996

  • The Role of Procedural Justice and Legitimacy in Shaping Public Support for Policing

    Open Access•Jason Sunshine, T R Tyler•Law & Society Review•2003

  • Decisions to Participate in and Desist from Four Types of Common Delinquency

    Open Access•Raymond Paternoster•Law & Society Review•1989

  • Tax Compliance and Perceptions of the Risks of Detection and Criminal Prosecution

    Open Access•Steven Klepper, Daniel S Nagin et al.•Law & Society Review•1989

  • Cheating Ourselves

    Open Access•Joel Slemrod•The Journal of Economic…•2007

  • A Letter from the Tax Office

    Open Access•Michael Wenzel•Social Justice Research•2006

Unique citing works28
Citations per year2,33
Citation span2014 - 2026 (13)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 28
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae