Good stuff over at Reason regarding how "policies
designed for self-interested citizens may undermine "the moral
sentiments."
"Bowles begins with a case where six day care centers in Haifa,
Israel imposed a fine on parents who picked their kids up late. The
fine aimed to encourage parents to be more prompt. Instead, parents
reacted to the fine by coming even later. Why? According to Bowles:
"The fine seems to have undermined the parents' sense of ethical
obligation to avoid inconveniencing the teachers and led them to
think of lateness as just another commodity they could
purchase."
More here.
topics:
Israel
