Link to the University of Pittsburgh Homepage
Link to the University Library System Homepage Link to the Contact Us Form

THE ECONOMIC AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF OFFERING FINANCIAL REWARDS FOR INTERNAL WHISTLE-BLOWING

Stikeleather, Bryan (2013) THE ECONOMIC AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF OFFERING FINANCIAL REWARDS FOR INTERNAL WHISTLE-BLOWING. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

[img]
Preview
PDF
Primary Text

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

I compare two approaches employers can use to induce workers to blow the whistle on internal misconduct such as co-worker theft. Employers can improve control over their resources and mitigate their substantial economic losses from internal misconduct if they can induce workers who observe such misconduct to report it. Prior research suggests that non-financial motivations drive worker whistle-blowing. Consistent with this perspective, employers in practice rarely offer workers explicit financial rewards for whistle-blowing but instead rely on workers’ non-financial motivations to blow the whistle. My dissertation compares the economic and behavioral effects of this approach relative to offering workers an explicit financial reward for whistle-blowing. My study examines whistle-blowing using both analytical and experimental research methods. First, I formulate an analytical model of whistle-blowing that integrates behavioral theory to help explain the conditions under which employers would prefer to induce whistle-blowing by relying on workers’ non-financial motivation versus offering workers an explicit financial reward. I find that neither approach strictly dominates, but rather that the optimal approach depends on the social norms that govern the interactions between workers and employers. My model also predicts that the approaches are mutually exclusive, i.e., employers will induce whistle-blowing by relying either on workers’ non-financial motivations or on their financial self-interest, but not on both. Second, I conduct experimental labor markets to determine whether employers can improve their welfare by offering workers an explicit financial reward for whistle-blowing and the behavioral consequences of doing so. I find that employers can induce more whistle-blowing and earn higher payoffs by offering workers explicit financial rewards for whistle-blowing, but that this comes at the cost of decreasing workers’ non-financial motivation to blow the whistle. My study contributes to the theoretical understanding of whistle-blowing and provides practical insights that will help employers decide whether to offer workers an explicit financial reward for whistle-blowing. In turn, this should help employers design better incentive contracts to induce whistle-blowing and improve their welfare. I also discuss some potentially fruitful avenues for future research on whistle-blowing that could extend the analytical and experimental findings documented in my study.


Share

Citation/Export:
Social Networking:
Share |

Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Stikeleather, Bryanbryanstikeleather@gmail.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairMoser, Donalddmoser@katz.pitt.eduMOSER
Committee MemberEvans, John H.jhe@katz.pitt.eduJHE
Committee MemberNewman, Andrewandrew.newman@moore.sc.edu
Committee MemberFeng, Meimfeng@katz.pitt.eduMEF23
Committee MemberKuang, Xijak@katz.pitt.edu
Date: 1 October 2013
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 18 June 2013
Approval Date: 1 October 2013
Submission Date: 1 July 2013
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 137
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business > Business Administration
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Whistle-blowing, Rewards, Motivation crowding, Crowding out, Gift exchange, Internal misconduct, Internal controls, Incentive contracts
Date Deposited: 01 Oct 2013 14:48
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:13
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19192

Metrics

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics


Actions (login required)

View Item View Item