在繁琐程序中失足：违反强制性政府程序的影响
Tripping through Hoops: The Effect of Violating Compulsory Government Procedures
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy · 2024 · [{"name": "Natalia Emanuel", "affiliation": []}, {"name": "Helen Ho", "affiliation": ["Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center"]}]
中文摘要
数百万美国人必须在受处罚威胁下应对复杂的政府程序。违反这些要求可能导致贫困陷阱，或使其更深地卷入法律体系。我们利用一项田野实验来估计未出庭对随后法律接触的影响。实验处理使未出庭率降低了40%。利用处理分配来识别轻微程序违规的因果影响，我们发现其对逮捕没有影响。然而，对于较低层级的案件，违规使缴纳的罚金和费用增加了59%或79美元，相当于一笔高息贷款，表明轻微程序违规可能代价高昂。(JEL C93, D73, K14, K41)
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. (JEL C93, D73, K14, K41)