Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/149332 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 6245
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We conduct experimental games with police applicants in Germany to investigate whether intrinsically motivated agents self-select into public service. Our focus is on trustworthiness and the willingness to enforce norms as key dimensions of intrinsic motivation in the police context. We find that police applicants are more trustworthy than non-applicants, i.e., they return higher shares as second-movers in a trust game. Furthermore, they invest more in rewards and punishment when they can enforce cooperation as a third party. Our results provide clear evidence for advantageous self-selection into the German police force, documenting an important mechanism by which the match between jobs and agents in public service can be improved.
Subjects: 
self-selection
intrinsic motivation
public service
trustworthiness
norm enforcement
JEL: 
C90
D64
D73
J45
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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