Economic Development and the Regulation of Morally Contentious Activities

29 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2017 Last revised: 7 Jun 2023

See all articles by Julio Elias

Julio Elias

University of CEMA

Nicola Lacetera

University of Toronto - Strategic Management; University of Toronto at Mississauga - Department of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Mario Macis

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Paola Salardi

University of Toronto - Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Date Written: March 2017

Abstract

The regulation of many activities depends on whether societies consider them morally controversial or “repugnant”. Not only have regulation and related ethical concerns changed over time, but there is also heterogeneity across countries at a given time. We provide evidence of this heterogeneity for three morally contentious activities: abortion, prostitution and gestational surrogacy, and explore the relationship between a country’s economic conditions and how these activities are regulated. We propose a conceptual framework to identify mechanisms that can explain our findings (including the role of non-economic factors), and indicate directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

Elias, Julio and Lacetera, Nicola and Macis, Mario and Salardi, Paola, Economic Development and the Regulation of Morally Contentious Activities (March 2017). NBER Working Paper No. w23214, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2938757

Julio Elias (Contact Author)

University of CEMA ( email )

1054 Buenos Aires
Argentina

Nicola Lacetera

University of Toronto - Strategic Management ( email )

Canada

University of Toronto at Mississauga - Department of Management

Canada

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Mario Macis

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School ( email )

100 International Drive
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Paola Salardi

University of Toronto - Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy ( email )

Toronto, Ontario
Canada

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