Do informational nudges effectively enhance the legal compliance of fertiliser companies? Lessons from randomised field experiments in Japan
通过与日本监管机构合作开展实地实验，发现损失厌恶信息（强调不遵守法规的后果）能使肥料企业及时提交报告的比例提高至少5.7个百分点，且对大小企业效果最显著。
Abstract This study examines whether informational nudges effectively enhance adherence to the Fertiliser Act among Japanese fertiliser companies (N = 2,382) by conducting field experiments in collaboration with a national regulatory body. We find that the timely submission of reports to the authority increased by at least 5.7 percentage points, from a baseline of 70.3 per cent. This result suggests that highlighting the consequences of noncompliance—such as imprisonment and fines—through a loss aversion message effectively encourages compliance. These effects sustained for over a year in some regions, though being marginally significant. The loss aversion message has the greatest impact among both the smallest and largest companies.