How do the consequences on others affect dishonest behavior? Evidence from an online experiment in Mexico

authored by

Giuliana Triberti, Pablo Soto-Mota, Adrian Vargas López, Luis Alberto Serra-Barragán

Abstract

Dishonesty harms economic performance and growth. However, the literature on dishonesty has used almost exclusively samples from developed countries. In addition, previous studies present non-conclusive results on how concerns for others affect lying behaviour. In view of this gap in the evidence, the present study explores how the decision to be dishonest changes when it affects a charity. In an experiment involving 555 participants in Mexico, subjects could lie about the result of a dice roll without any possibility of detection. We contrast a situation without incentives to three conditions that differ in how dishonesty affected the charity. Deceitful behaviour increased when participants could benefit from it. Also, participants lied less when they received benefits at the expense of the charity, but they did not lie more when they could help it. Our results suggest that making salient how dishonesty harms others might help reduce its negative effects in society.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning
Environmental Behaviour and Planning

External Organisation(s)

Banco de México
El Colegio de México
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM)

Type

Article

Journal

Latin American Economic Review

Volume

34

Pages

1-29

ISSN

2198-3526

Publication date

15.02.2025

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.60758/laer.v34i.247 (Access: Open)