Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP13056
Authors: Roland Benabou; Armin Falk; Jean Tirole
Abstract: By downplaying externalities, magnifying the cost of moral behavior, or suggesting not being pivotal, exculpatory narratives can allow individuals to maintain a positive image when in fact acting in a morally questionable way. Conversely, responsibilizing narratives can help sustain better social norms. We investigate when narratives emerge from a principal or the actor himself, how they are interpreted and transmitted by others, and when they spread virally. We then turn to how narratives compete with imperatives (general moral rules or precepts) as alternative modes of communication to persuade agents to behave in desirable ways.
Keywords: moral behavior; prosocial behavior; narratives; imperatives; rules; deontology; consequentialism; norms; organizations
JEL Codes: D62; D64; D78; D83; D85; D91; H41; K42; L14; Z13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| exculpatory narratives (Y60) | selfish behavior (D64) |
| responsibilizing narratives (M14) | prosocial behavior (D64) |
| spread of narratives (Z13) | immoral behaviors (K42) |
| positive narrative (D78) | moral behavior (A13) |
| moral authority of issuer (A13) | effectiveness of imperatives (D78) |