Abstract (eng)
Tax compliance behavior has been intensively investigated both from an economic and psychological standpoint. A large body of literature gives insights into socio-economic factors influencing compliance decisions. However, despite the rising interest in emotions in the re-search community at large, findings on the impact of emotions on tax compliance is scarce. This dissertation extends the existing literature by a comprehensive set of studies that provides insight into the role of emotions in tax compliance behavior from different perspectives, using a variety of research methods. This cumulative dissertation comprises four research articles:
Study 1 is a review on studies testing the assumptions of the Slippery Slope Frame-work, which describes the impact of trustworthiness and power of tax authorities on compliance. While the framework is widely accepted and its assumptions mainly con-firmed, this review points to unanswered questions as the dynamic interaction between the two dimensions is not yet completely understood. A better understanding of emo-tions in taxation shall help to shed light on these open questions.
As a first step towards understanding the impact of emotions on tax compliance, the general impact of positive versus negative affect was investigated in an experimental survey study conducted with self-employed taxpayers from Turkey. Results show for instance that enforcement measures, such as audits and fines, elicit negative affect which triggers enforced compliance intentions as well as intentions to evade taxes.
Using a mixed-methods approach, Study 3 investigated which specific emotions are relevant in the context of paying taxes and in which situations they are elicited. First insights into the relationship between specific emotions and compliance intentions are also provided by this study. Anger and self-blame showed to be negatively related to compliance intentions and should thus be avoided in taxation procedures.
Finally, after having established the relevance of integral emotions for tax compli-ance, the impact of incidental emotions on tax compliance behavior was investigated in an experimental study. Despite a successful manipulation of emotions in the lab, no influence of incidental emotions anger, fear and happiness on compliance behavior could be shown in the lab.
Overall, this dissertation provides ample evidence for the importance of integral emotion for tax compliance decisions and underlines the importance to take emotional experiences of taxpayers into account when designing tax policies.