This paper proposes a theory of the relationship between prohibitions and temptation. In presence of self-control problems, moral values may increase individual material welfare (and utility) by serving as a self-commitment device. The model investigates the relationship between morality and temptation, the individual gains from morality, the interaction between external sanctions and moral self-punishment and the spread and strength of individually optimal moral values. The empirical analysis, based on survey data for a large set of countries, documents a hump-shaped pattern of morality in social class, which supports the theoretical predictions of the model.
“Thou shalt not covet”: Prohibitions, temptation and moral values / Matteo Cervellati; Paolo Vanin. - In: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS. - ISSN 0047-2727. - STAMPA. - 103:(2013), pp. 15-28. [10.1016/j.jpubeco.2013.04.001]
“Thou shalt not covet”: Prohibitions, temptation and moral values
CERVELLATI, MATTEO;VANIN, PAOLO
2013
Abstract
This paper proposes a theory of the relationship between prohibitions and temptation. In presence of self-control problems, moral values may increase individual material welfare (and utility) by serving as a self-commitment device. The model investigates the relationship between morality and temptation, the individual gains from morality, the interaction between external sanctions and moral self-punishment and the spread and strength of individually optimal moral values. The empirical analysis, based on survey data for a large set of countries, documents a hump-shaped pattern of morality in social class, which supports the theoretical predictions of the model.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.