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on Nudge and Boosting |
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Issue of 2025–01–20
eight papers chosen by Marco Novarese, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Rila, R.; Mithursan, A.; Samaranayake, D.I.J. |
| Abstract: | The study makes an effort to experiment the effectiveness of green nudges in promoting water conservation and fostering a sustainability mindset in an educational setting. The objective of the study is to explore the potential for fostering a sustainability mindset at the school level by using green nudges to encourage environmentally conscious water conservation behaviors. The methodological application was a field experiment with a post-intervention quantitative analysis, strategically placed visual prompts (stickers) were used to encourage water-saving behavior among students, teachers, and staff. The results show a significant reduction in water wastage, highlighting the impact of green nudges. Regression analysis indicates that responsiveness to green nudges and knowledge of environmental issues are significant predictors of water conservation behavior. The study concludes that tailored, strategically placed nudges can effectively promote sustainable behaviors in schools. These findings offer valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability education to maintain long-term behavioral changes. |
| Keywords: | Behavioral choices, Green-nudges, Sustainability mindset, Water conservation. |
| JEL: | D71 Q01 Q57 Z0 |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:122767 |
| By: | Basistha, Ahana (Indian Statistical Institute); Prakash, Nishith (Northeastern University); Sherif, Raisa (Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance) |
| Abstract: | Urban waste management challenges pose significant health and economic consequences. Although source-level waste segregation offers a promising solution, its success depends on household participation. Through a randomized controlled trial in the capital city of Bihar, India, we evaluate how light-touch messaging interventions influence household waste management practices. Our results reveal a stark behavioral disconnect: while interventions increased financial contributions to waste segregation initiativesby 9.6 - 11.7 percent compared to the control group, they failed to improve actual waste segregation practices. This gap between financial support and behavioral change highlights the complexity of promoting sustainable waste management practices in urban households. |
| Keywords: | willingness to contribute, household waste management, religious messaging, civic messaging, waste segregation, field experiment, India |
| JEL: | D01 D91 C93 Q53 O13 |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17508 |
| By: | Marco Castillo; Sera Linardi; Ragan Petrie |
| Abstract: | Many previously incarcerated individuals are rearrested following release from prison. We investigate whether encouragement to use reentry support services reduces rearrest. Field experiment participants are offered a monetary incentive to complete different dosages of visits, either three or five, to a support service provider. The incentive groups increased visits, and one extra visit reduces rearrests three years after study enrollment by six percentage points. The results are driven by Black participants who are more likely to take up treatment and benefit the most from visits. The study speaks to the importance of considering first-stage heterogeneity and heterogeneous treatment effects. |
| Keywords: | recidivism, reentry support services, dosage effects, field experiment |
| JEL: | K42 C93 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11554 |
| By: | Sullivan, Nikki; Breslav, Alexander; Doré, Samyukta; Bachman, Matthew; Huettel, Scott A. |
| Abstract: | Defaults are pervasive in consumer choice. Here, laboratory experiments that used eye tracking were combined with cognitive modeling to pinpoint the influence of defaults in the decision process, along with naturalistic experiments with large pre-registered samples to test the limits of defaults on consumer choices. Contrary to previous assumptions, in simple binary choices, default options did not potentiate rapid heuristic-based decisions but instead altered processes of attention and valuation. Model comparison indicated that defaults received a positive boost in value – a golden halo – that was large enough to increase hedonic choices when the default was hedonic, but had limited effects for utilitarian defaults or for when defaults were incongruent with background goals. The findings illustrate and quantify the mechanisms through which default options shape subsequent decisions in simple choices. Further, boundary conditions for when defaults can and cannot be used to nudge consumer choice are established. |
| Keywords: | choice architecture; default options; eye tracking; case modeling |
| JEL: | L81 |
| Date: | 2024–10–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:126086 |
| By: | Castillo, Marco (Texas A&M University); Linardi, Sera (University of Pittsburgh); Petrie, Ragan (Texas A&M University) |
| Abstract: | Many previously incarcerated individuals are rearrested following release from prison. We investigate whether encouragement to use reentry support services reduces rearrest. Field experiment participants are offered a monetary incentive to complete different dosages of visits, either three or five, to a support service provider. The incentive groups increased visits, and one extra visit reduces rearrests three years after study enrollment by six percentage points. The results are driven by Black participants who are more likely to take up treatment and benefit the most from visits. The study speaks to the importance of considering first-stage heterogeneity and heterogeneous treatment effects. |
| Keywords: | recidivism, reentry support services, dosage effects, field experiment |
| JEL: | K42 C93 |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17522 |
| By: | Thompson, Bethan; Akaichi, Faical; Toma, Luiza |
| Abstract: | Single-use disposable cups are a significant contributor to plastic waste due to their widespread use and limited recyclability. Policymakers worldwide are implementing measures to reduce their consumption and encourage reusable alternatives. This study evaluates the impact of regulatory measures (charges and discounts), persuasion (environmental information prompts), and consumer motivations (using Protection Motivation Theory) on preferences for single-use, refillable, and returnable cups. Using discrete choice experiments with a nationally representative sample, we find that a charge of 25–30 pence is required to reduce single-use cup selection by 50%, whereas a discount of at least 70 pence achieves a similar effect. Information prompts have minimal influence on choices, while environmentally motivated consumer segments demonstrate greater responsiveness to discounts. These findings provide actionable, evidence-based insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders, supporting the design of effective interventions to accelerate the transition from single-use to reusable systems. |
| Date: | 2024–11–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:e2da7 |
| By: | Mills, Stuart |
| Abstract: | Libertarian paternalism (LP) draws on behavioral economics to advocate for noncoercive, nonfiscal policy interventions to improve individual well-being. However, growing criticism is encouraging behavioral policymaking—long dominated by LP approaches—to consider more structural and fiscally impactful interventions as valid responses to behavioral findings. Keynesian social philosophy allows behavioral policymaking to incorporate these new perspectives alongside existing LP approaches. |
| JEL: | J1 |
| Date: | 2024–11–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:126299 |
| By: | Veríssimo, Diogo; Blake, Katie; Flint, Hilary Byerly; Doughty, Hunter; Espelosin, Dulce; Gregg, Emily A.; Kubo, Takahiro; Mann-Lang, Judy; Perry, Laura R.; Selinske, Matthew J.; Shreedhar, Ganga; Thomas-Walters, Laura |
| Abstract: | Conservation of biodiversity is above all else an exercise in human persuasion. Human behavior drives all substantive threats to biodiversity; therefore, influencing it is the only path to mitigating the current extinction crisis. We review the literature across three different axes to highlight current evidence on influencing human behavior for conservation. First, we look at behavioral interventions to mitigate different threats, from pollution and climate change to invasive species and human disturbance. Next, we examine interventions focused on different stakeholders, from voters, investors, and environmental managers to consumers, producers, and extractors. Finally, we review delivery channels, ranging from mass and social media to interventions involving changes to the physical environment or carried out in person. We highlight key gaps, including the lack of scale and robust impact evaluation of most interventions, and the need to prioritize behaviors, overcome the reproducibility crisis, and deal with inequality when designing and implementing behavior change interventions. |
| Keywords: | behavioral science; communication; nudge; social marketing; social science; sustainability |
| JEL: | L81 |
| Date: | 2024–10–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:126106 |