Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/161033 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 10410
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
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: 
C9
D64
D73
J45
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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