I get where you're coming from. But I don't know which is cause and which is effect. Suppose your friendly neighborhood restaurant stopped giving you the check

I get where you're coming from. But I don't know which is cause and which is effect. Suppose your friendly neighborhood restaurant stopped giving you the check at the end of the meal, and instead had a stern sign on the table saying "Pay what you owe. Underpay and we call the cops." Would you still feel that warm reciprocity?