Man vs. Machine: Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement
Review of Economics and Statistics · 2023 · Oliver Browne、Ludovica Gazzè、Michael Greenstone、Olga Rostapshova
中文摘要
新技术能够以近乎为零的边际成本完美检测环境违规行为，但其采用率很低。我们在加利福尼亚州弗雷斯诺市开展了一项实地实验，评估利用智能水表执行节水规定的效果。各家庭被随机分配至执法方式（自动化执法或现场检查）与罚款金额的不同组合。自动化执法使家庭受处罚率从0.1%提高到14%，夏季用水量减少3%，违规行为减少17%，而提高罚款金额几乎没有影响。然而，自动化执法也使客户投诉增加了1,102%，最终导致该措施被取消，这凸显出政治因素限制了技术手段在应对执法难题上的应用。
Abstract
Abstract New technologies allow perfect detection of environmental violations at near-zero marginal cost, but take-up is low. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate enforcement of water conservation rules with smart meters in Fresno, CA. Households were randomly assigned combinations of enforcement method (automated or in-person inspections) and fines. Automated enforcement increased households’ punishment rates from 0.1% to 14%, decreased summer water use by 3%, and reduced violations by 17%, while higher fine levels had little effect. However, automated enforcement also increased customer complaints by 1,102%, ultimately causing its cancellation and highlighting that political considerations limit technological solutions to enforcement challenges.