Public Law Enforcement under Ambiguity

Factors Influencing Implementation of Cybersecurity Laws in Developing Economies: Evidence with Quantitative Analysis from Pakistan

“…Prior history of federal programs, resource availability, state wealth, or geographic location did not appear to have a substantial impact on policy formation, but there are some indicators that other elements may become relevant in the following stage of legislation implementation, policy acceptance [12]. It indicates that several variables such as an inadequate resources [27], corruption [28], insufficient knowledge, ambiguity about law enforcement [29], a willingness on the part [30], and low confidence [31] are influencing progress in the application of cybersecurity regulations. These elements are detailed more below.…”

“…Assume Mr. X and Mr. Y perform the same offense under the same conditions. If Mr. X receives a 5-year sentence and Mr. Y receives a 3-year term, the disparity appears to be highly harsh [29].…”

“…Consequently, attitudes can have a significant impact on deterrence policy suggestions. Assume that people are pessimistic and overestimate their possibilities of being caught and convicted [29]. It is argued that ideal penalties be reduced for two reasons: penalties may be viewed as expensive transfers if society considers mental anguish, and the perceived likelihood of detection is greater than the factual probability.…”

The role of experience in deterring crime: A theory of specific versus general deterrence

“…However, Teichman (2011) offers a survey of the behavioral economics of crime in which he notes that offsetting biases and unobservable risk preferences on the part of offenders lead to conflicting predictions regarding the impact of less certain punishment regimes. Moreover, Chopard and Obidzinski (2021) examine the implications for law enforcement policy of the resulting “decisions under ambiguity” by criminal offenders. These types of psychological factors and biases can affect perceived probabilities of apprehension, as well as the updating of those perceptions in response to experience (Apel, 2022).…”