Read more
When do citizens voluntarily comply with regulations rather than act out of fear of sanctions? Can the Public be Trusted? challenges prevailing regulatory paradigms by examining when democratic states can rely on voluntary compliance. Drawing on behavioral science, law, and public policy research, Yuval Feldman explores why voluntary compliance, despite often yielding superior and more sustainable outcomes, remains underutilized by policymakers. Through empirical analysis of policy implementation in COVID-19 response, tax compliance, and environmental regulation, Feldman examines trust-based governance's potential and limitations. The book presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how cultural diversity, technological change, and institutional trust shape voluntary cooperation. By offering evidence-based insights, Feldman provides practical recommendations for balancing trust, accountability, and enforcement in regulatory design. This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to optimize regulatory outcomes through enhanced voluntary compliance. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
List of contents
Author's Note; Preface; Conceptual Glossary for the Book; 1. Introduction; 2. What is Intrinsic Compliance Motivation ; 3. Internalization versus Crowding Out ; 4: Regulatory Design, Trust and Voluntary Compliance ; 5. What are the Perils of Voluntary Compliance?; 6. Cross-Cultural Level; 7. Technology, Nudges, Reputation, and Voluntary Compliance; 8. Case Study I Voluntary Compliance and COVID-19 Pandemic; 9. Case Study II: Voluntary Tax Compliance; 10. Case Study III: Voluntary Environmental Compliance; 11. Conclusion: Reimagining Regulatory Policy for an Era of Voluntary Compliance.
About the author
Yuval Feldman directs the Voluntary Compliance Lab at Bar-Ilan University, integrating behavioral science, legal theory, and regulatory compliance. He has published over 80 articles in leading law and social science journals and received numerous honors including an ERC Advanced Grant and the Bruno Award. His book The Law of Good People (CUP, 2018) develops a framework for understanding the interaction between behavioral ethics, compliance and regulation.
