Topic of the thesis: Tax compliance, institutions and social norms.

Abstract: There is a widely document North South gap in tax payment in Italy, such that people in the North pay a greater proportion of their tax commitments than those in the South. Despite extensive work and a wide range of potential explanations, the precise reasons why this gap remains is still not understood. Here I simultaneously study three potential explanations: institutional, individual, and social, and put them against each other to see which accounts best for the observed gap. Firstly, I do this for a nationally representative sample of Italians using a combined survey and vignette experiment; then, I investigate real differences in tax compliance behavior through an online experiment. These techniques allow me to study both associations and causal relations.

Research interests: Behavioral game theory – Social dilemmas – Social norms – Experimental methods – Quantitative methods.

Graduated from: University of Bologna (BA and MA) – Collegio Carlo Alberto (MA).

Degrees obtained: BA in Statistical Sciences – MA in Statistics, Economics and Business – MA in Economics.

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