The Effect of Trust in Government on Tax Compliance

Many people pay taxes because they're afraid of getting caught if they don't. People could also seek to avoid negative emotions like they don't want to feel shame. Catherine Echol and Kate Lambertin compared what people were willing to give to a fund without knowing how the money would be spent. They found that when people know their money is going to be used for a cause, they're much more willing to part with it than otherwise.