You start spanking your kids when you fail at parenting. You have to teach your kids that your words mean business from the early age. Physical discipline accomplishes little, and by the age 14+ they will just ignore you. YMMV.
Just hearing the footsteps of my dad was enough for me to stop doing whatever I was doing.
Studies have shown.
Lower income parents spank the most.
Would people say that lower income kids are the best behaved?
Studies have also shown there are more effective ways to correct behavior other than corporal punishment. However, that does not mean you don't parent.
My son(3 years old) has never been spanked and is constantly praised by strangers and others about his behavior. The biggest issue so far that I have had to deal with was at a Moe's Burrito.
In line he asked for a cookie. I said ok. When we sat down, he said he wanted the cookie and I told him he had to wait til after he finished his dinner. He pitched one of his only hissy fits ever in public. I immediately picked his little butt up and carried him out the store. I carried him to the car and put him in the back seat. I told him that we would not go anywhere until he behaved. He threw a fit for about 10 minutes.
Was it a pain in the ass? Yes. Has he done it since? No. Most people let their children escalate to the point that their behavior is awful. I nip any behavior that annoys me right when it starts.
I would be confident my son could go to a 5 star restaurant with us and sit still and use an indoor voice the entire time. All because he knows what is expected.
Most children want to please their parents. Just seems that most parents don't set clear expectations with their children. I see it every day.
EDIT: Let me also add. My son is no angel and we let him run a little wild at home. But in public, he knows how to behave.