Man vs. Machine: Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement
通过实地实验评估智能水表自动化执法对节水规则执行的影响，发现自动化大幅提升惩罚率并减少违规，但引发大量投诉导致项目取消，凸显政治因素对技术应用的制约。
Abstract New technologies allow perfect detection of environmental violations at near-zero marginal cost, but take-up is low. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate enforcement of water conservation rules with smart meters in Fresno, CA. Households were randomly assigned combinations of enforcement method (automated or in-person inspections) and fines. Automated enforcement increased households’ punishment rates from 0.1% to 14%, decreased summer water use by 3%, and reduced violations by 17%, while higher fine levels had little effect. However, automated enforcement also increased customer complaints by 1,102%, ultimately causing its cancellation and highlighting that political considerations limit technological solutions to enforcement challenges.