We tested the effects of prepopulated returns and accuracy confirmation on compliance. Participants were askedto report correct liabilities for different types of returns, whereby some had to... Show moreWe tested the effects of prepopulated returns and accuracy confirmation on compliance. Participants were askedto report correct liabilities for different types of returns, whereby some had to confirm the accuracy of eachreported liability and others not. Results showed that correctly prefilled returns yielded the highest rate ofcompliance, followed by returns that were not prefilled, followed by returns that overestimated liabilities, andwith returns that underestimated liabilities displaying the lowest compliance. Moreover, accuracy confirmationincreased compliance only for returns that overestimated liabilities. The present study indicates that bothmorality and defaults play a pivotal role in shaping the effects of prepopulated returns on compliance. Ourfindings imply that prepopulating tax returns should be done with care, because it can increase tax compliancewhen done correctly, but undermine it when done incorrectly. Show less
The prospect of negative local impacts in combination with the absence of local benefits can be a reason for people to oppose plans for the siting of a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS)... Show moreThe prospect of negative local impacts in combination with the absence of local benefits can be a reason for people to oppose plans for the siting of a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) project in their community. Local public opposition may be reduced by implementing compensation measures that redress the balance between perceived local costs and benefits. Here, we examine evaluations and relative preferences of Dutch citizens and local government authorities (LGAs) concerning five different types of compensation measures. The results of a survey experiment show that citizens and LGAs were equally (and most) positive about the establishment of a fund for the compensation of damage or other negative local impacts associated with nearby CCS activities. They differed in how they judged the other measures though: Citizens were more positive about compensation in the form of measures to improve the local economy, monetary payments to individual households, and improvements to local recreational amenities; LGAs were more positive about a grant to local government. Citizens assumed that LGAs would be more positive about four of the five compensation measures than they actually were, whereas LGAs performed very well in estimating the judgments of citizens. Implications for compensation policy are discussed. Show less
Zaal, M.P.; Terwel, B.W.; Mors, E. ter; Daamen, D.D.L. 2014
Companies in the energy sector face a dilemma regarding how to communicate their environmental policies to the public. Communicating that environmental policies and activities are motivated by... Show moreCompanies in the energy sector face a dilemma regarding how to communicate their environmental policies to the public. Communicating that environmental policies and activities are motivated by concern for the environment could elicit positive reactions, but may also lead to accusations of corporate greenwashing - the idea that companies deliberately frame their activities as ‘green' in order to look environmentally friendly. The results of three experiments demonstrate that people easily suspect greenwashing when an energy company invests in environmental measures. Importantly, suspicions of corporate greenwashing are reduced by acknowledging economic motives instead of communicating environmental motives for such investments. Suspicion of strategic organizational behavior mediates the effect of communicated motive on perceived corporate greenwashing. This indirect effect occurs primarily among people who are not by nature very skeptical about organizational communications in general. These findings highlight the need to think carefully about how to communicate corporate environmental policies to the public. Show less
Deze dissertatie gaat over antecedenten en consequenties van publiek vertrouwen in organisaties die betrokken zijn bij de ontwikkeling van en de besluitvorming over koolstofdioxide afvang transport... Show moreDeze dissertatie gaat over antecedenten en consequenties van publiek vertrouwen in organisaties die betrokken zijn bij de ontwikkeling van en de besluitvorming over koolstofdioxide afvang transport en opslag (CCS) technologie. Het doel van CCS technologie is het verminderen van de alsmaar toenemende concentratie koolstofdioxide in de atmosfeer, de voornaamste oorzaak van klimaatverandering. Publieke acceptatie van CCS technologie is cruciaal voor het succesvol implementeren van deze technologie. De redenering die in deze dissertatie centraal staat is dat publieke acceptatie zal afhangen van de mate van publiek vertrouwen in organisaties die betrokken zijn bij CCS (zoals industriële organisaties, milieuorganisaties en overheidsorganisaties). Publiek vertrouwen in organisaties blijkt inderdaad publieke acceptatie van CCS te beïnvloeden. Aangezien uit het onderzoek blijkt dat publiek vertrouwen in industriële organisaties te wensen over laat, is het voornamelijk voor deze organisaties van belang om door middel van communicatie naar het publiek het vertrouwen van mensen te vergroten. Communicatie lijkt effectiever wanneer de suggestie van sociale wenselijkheid in communicatie wordt vermeden door naast publiekdienende (milieu)argumenten voor de inzet van CCS geven ook "eerlijk" aan te geven dat organisatiedienende motieven een rol spelen. Overheidsorganisaties wekken vertrouwen door aan te geven dat zowel milieuorganisaties als industriële organisaties bij de besluitvorming over CCS betrokken zijn. Show less
