The most famous element in Bentham’s theory of punishment, the Panopticon Prison, expresses his view of the two … purposes of punishment, deterrence and special prevention. We investigate Bentham’s intuition in a public goods lab experiment … by manipulating how much information on punishment experienced by others is available to would-be offenders. Compared …

symmetric and asymmetric punishment regimes for bribery, one may wonder which punishment strategy is more effective in curbing … design. The results show that, in both countries, with symmetric punishment recipients are less likely to grant the socially … undesirable favor, while bribers are more likely to report to the authorities with asymmetric punishment. In addition, when …

less to a joint project; punishment cost is higher; efficiency is lower; inequity is higher. While experimental subjects … themselves do trust the institution less if punishment does not become effective immediately. …

, even if punishment is costly. However, these studies focus on situations where there is no uncertainty about others …' behavior. We investigate punishment in a world with “reasonable doubt” about others' contributions. Interestingly, people … level of a setting without punishment. Our findings suggest that sufficient information accuracy about others' behavior is …

) there is preference uncertainty. In a linear public good with punishment meted out by a disinterested participant, I test … two implications of the model: (a) participants increase contributions in reaction to imperfect punishment; (b) imperfect … punishment helps sustain cooperation if participants experience free-riding …