More effective teaching systems and more trust between peers and professors results if there are many honest students within a college community. As with IRS policy, in order for honesty to prevail, plagiarism policies must be clearly defined and consistently enforced. At the same time students must see rules and regulations as reasonable and fair in order to build a stock of honesty. Preserving and increasing the number of honest students is essential to prevent plagiarism and create a better learning environment. Slemrod also believes that a system that relies on voluntary compliance may increase the cost of government.
People are able to hide their money thereby avoiding taxes.
Similarly, if college plagiarism policies are too lenient, then students are more likely to cheat in order to get ahead. But if they appear overly harsh or arbitrary to students, then those who are honest may be tempted to plagiarize. This is similar to the Nanny tax policies that the IRS used to enforce. Any household that paid a housekeeper, babysitter or other domestic services for more than 50 hours a quarter was required to pay social security and other taxes. If schools make ridiculous policies regarding plagiarism then students will be less likely to comply.