Sunsets Are for Suckers: An Experimental Test of Sunset Clauses
In a randomized experimental vignette study, researchers evaluated the impact of sunset clauses on various sentiments around proposed legislation. They found that overall, sunset clauses had different impacts on such sentiments depending on the political valence of the legislation: liberal participants were more likely to increase support for proposed conservative legislation if it added a sunset clause, whereas conservatives were less likely to change their stance after addition of a sunset clause to liberal legislation.
Abstract and Citation
Underhill, Kristen and Ayres, Ian, Sunsets Are for Suckers: An Experimental Test of Sunset Clauses (January 13, 2020). Columbia Law and Economics Working Paper No. 651, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3518487 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3518487