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on Nudge and Boosting |
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Issue of 2025–06–23
two papers chosen by Marco Novarese, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Anna Claudia Caspani (University of Insubria, Department of Economics, Via Monte Generoso, Varese, Italy.); Elena Maggi (University of Insubria, Department of Economics, Via Monte Generoso, Varese, Italy.); Jordi J. Teixidó (GiM-IREA, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.) |
| Abstract: | Private transport is a leading contributor to climate change and local pollution in many countries. As a result, commuting choices have become paramount. Our main research question is how gender affects these choices. This paper analyzes the gender heterogeneity of informational interventions (green nudges) on the willingness of car commuters to adopt more sustainable commuting habits. To isolate causal evidence, we conducted a survey experiment with a randomly assigned informational treatment – a visual representation of the carbon footprint associated with different commuting options – among students at a university in northern Italy. The results show that the nudge increased the participants’ willingness to forego their private car by 7-9%. Heterogeneous analyses reveal a novel gender-specific pattern in nudge effectiveness: female car commuters exhibit a consistently greater reluctance to forego private vehicles in response to the treatment compared to male car commuters. Potential mechanisms include differing mobility patterns, security concerns, and lower social desirability bias among women. In all cases, this gender discrepancy documents the importance of integrating a gender perspective in climate policy interventions to enhance both effectiveness and public support. |
| Keywords: | gender; local climate policy; commuting; green nudges; survey experiment; public support. JEL classification: D91, H23, M38, Q58. |
| Date: | 2024–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ira:wpaper:202412 |
| By: | Ostrode, Nicholas |
| Abstract: | Design elements intended to influence the behavior of users are ubiquitous in smartphone apps. To date, there is no systematic framework that comprises the most common elements and their potential effects and risks to enable the analysis of behavioral design in smartphone apps. Building upon previous research, I compare different frameworks from research areas related to behavioral design. I collect and describe 91 common elements that are frequently used in smartphone apps in a synthesis framework that I call Behavioral Design Map. This framework is then exemplarily applied to analyze screenshots from six popular smartphone apps. I find that pre-existing frameworks are very heterogeneous in their scope, comprehensiveness and language. The perspective of the user and possible harmful side effects of certain legal elements are only sparsely covered. The analysis of smartphone apps using the Behavioral Design Map shows that the approach of the framework can be helpful in increasing the understanding of the application and effects of behavioral design in apps. Apps from entertainment categories appear to rely heavily on combinations of behavioral design elements based on reward mechanisms. Surprisingly, a fitness app designed for adopting a running routine applies behavioral design rather moderately. |
| Abstract: | Designelemente, die das Verhalten von Nutzern beeinflussen sollen, sind in Smartphone-Apps allgegenwärtig. Bislang gibt es kein systematisches Framework, das die häufigsten Elemente sowie ihre möglichen Effekte und Risiken umfasst und so die Analyse von Behavioral Design in Smartphone-Apps ermöglicht. In diesem Papier vergleiche ich verschiedene Frameworks aus Forschungsbereichen mit Bezug zu Behavioral Design. Ich sammle und beschreibe 91 bekannte Elemente, die häufig in Smartphone-Apps verwendet werden, in einem Framework, das ich als Behavioral Design Map bezeichne. Anschließend wird das Framework beispielhaft angewendet, um Screenshots aus sechs populären Smartphone-Apps zu analysieren. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass bestehende Frameworks hinsichtlich Umfang, Vollständigkeit und Terminologie sehr heterogen sind. Die Perspektive der Nutzenden und potenzielle schädliche Nebeneffekte bestimmter legaler Elemente werden nur wenig berücksichtigt. Die Analyse von Smartphone-Apps mit der Behavioral Design Map zeigt, dass der Ansatz des Frameworks dabei hilfreich sein kann, das Verständnis der Nutzung und der Effekte von Behavioral Design in Apps zu verbessern. Apps aus Unterhaltungskategorien scheinen intensiv Kombinationen von Behavioral Design-Elementen einzusetzen, die auf Belohnungsmechanismen basieren. Überraschenderweise verwendet eine Fitness-App, die für das Entwickeln einer Laufroutine designt wurde, Behavioral Design eher in moderatem Umfang. |
| Keywords: | Behavioral design, smartphone apps, framework, behavioral economics, persuasive technology |
| JEL: | D83 D91 L86 O33 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:319081 |