Experimental Design
The study evaluates the behavioural intervention that leads to amnesty uptake and subsequent settlement by subjects in arrears through a natural field experiment. It also examines treatment sequencing and its role in influencing compliance with the amnesty. Through randomised controlled trials, 34,886 delinquents are randomly assigned to four arms. In the first phase, they receive benefit-oriented messages, deterrence messages, and dynamic social norms. The control group only receives information about the amnesty. Those in the social norm and benefit treatment arms that do not take up the amnesty by the second round, receive sequenced messages in the second third and fourth round of reminders. The sequence continues for non-takers in the social norm and benefit group until they receive each of the three treatment messages. Following from literature, the deterrence treatment is the strongest signal, we therefore do not apply sequencing of treatment to subjects in this arm. Instead, subjects in this arm are treated with reminders. Outcomes of interest are amnesty uptake and subsequent payments. We extend behavioural intervention literature by focusing on delinquents in an amnesty when policy is silent on heightened enforcement measures post amnesty. In addition, we introduce sequencing in a within subject design and evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing compliance behaviour.