Abstract for: Is punishment always effective? Evidence from an experimental study

Using a comprehensive system dynamics model, we show that delay, feedback, and nonlinearities can affect the complexities of managing CPRs. We develop the model based on a previous study of orchards and groundwater management. Subjects attend the experiment as orchard managers, trying to maximize their profits. We show that higher feedback complexities (i.e., higher delays) can increase the challenges of managing the commons. We also show that punishment mechanisms might not be as effective as previously predicted in the literature, and they might lead to unintended consequences. Data gathering on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and methods are discussed.