Specifying and Enforcing Norms in Artificial Institutions

Abstract

In this paper we investigate two important and related aspects of
the formalization of open interaction systems: how to specify
norms, and how to enforce them by means of sanctions. The problem
of specifying the sanctions associated with the violation of norms
is crucial in an open system because, given that the compliance of
autonomous agents to obligations and prohibitions cannot be taken
for granted, norm enforcement is necessary to constrain the
possible evolutions of the system, thus obtaining a degree of
predictability that makes it rational for agents to interact with
the system. In our model, norms are specified declaratively. When
certain events take place, norms become active and generate
pending commitments for the agents playing certain roles. Norms
also specify the sanctions associated with their violation. In the
paper, we analyze the concept of sanction in detail and propose a
mechanism through which sanctions can be applied.