Is There An Expressive Function of Law? An Empirical Analysis of Voting Laws with Symbolic Fines

This article empirically investigates whether law affects behaviorbeyond deterrence ("expressive function of law"). With Swisspanel data, I find that the legal abolition of the voting dutysignificantly decreased average turnout, even though the finesfor not voting have only been symbolic. As for the size of Cantonalturnout reduction, it widely differs between the Cantons andis highly correlated with voter participation before the removalof the voting duty. In contrast to the voting duty, the introductionof postal voting did not affect voter turnout in spite of thesubstantial decrease in transaction costs. Therefore, in publicgood areas such as voting, even a sanctionless law targetingat the civic duty might have a bigger impact on behavior thanactions which affect the costs of provision for the public good.     

Enhancement of ninhydrin- or DFO-treated latent fingerprints on thermal paper

A new method for enhancement of ninhydrin or 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO)-treated latent fingerprints on thermal paper will be described. Most thermosensitive surfaces of thermal paper become dark when treated with DFO or ninhydrin petroleum ether (NPB) solution. This effect minimizes contrast between the developed fingerprints and the background. The new method described reduces this dark staining without removing the thermosensitive layer and parts of the developed fingerprints, as occurs with acetone washing. Through the new method, the developed fingerprints appear in sharp lines and high contrast. Extensive tests were performed, leading to an optimized working solution, which charges the paper with a minimum of chemicals, is cheap, and enables a large quantity of papers to be treated in a short time. The working solution contains commercially available, nonvolatile, nitrogenous organic compounds and can be used like the application of NPB solution by dipping.