NANCY Seminar – Alessandro ISPANO (Université Paris Dauphine)

Event details :

Title: Sounds of Silence, cowritten with Attila AMBRUS, Pëllumb RESHIDI and Peter VIDA

Abstract: The right to silence is a cornerstone of the rule of law, yet its interpretation and consequences remain highly debated. This project develops a theory-driven laboratory experiment comparing “American” rules—where silence is protected from adverse inference—and “English” rules, where silence may be taken as incriminating. A simple communication game with two-sided asymmetric information captures the interaction between an accused individual and a fact-finder, generating testable predictions about behavior, welfare, and the incidence of Type I and Type II errors. The experimental design leverages the fact that welfare rankings between rules vary depending on the punishment for perjury and the leniency for confession. The project informs the broader design of enforcement institutions, ranging from private litigation to antifraud mechanisms in universities and other organizations.