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on Nudge and Boosting |
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Issue of 2024–12–16
two papers chosen by Marco Novarese, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Laura Cappellucci; Lan Ha; Jeremy Honig; Christopher R. Knittel; Amy Vetter; Richard Wilner |
| Abstract: | We designed and conducted three randomized control trials in partnership with a large biopharmaceutical company operating over 160 plasma donation centers, with the aim of promoting sustainable behaviors in a workplace setting. Specifically, we focused on reducing operational errors that led to dropped collection materials, long freezer door open times, and improper recycling practices. To achieve these goals, we employed social norms to nudge employees towards 1) reducing wasted collection materials, 2) minimizing the duration of freezer door openings, and 3) improving recycling practices. We found an average reduction of roughly 70 percent in plastic waste from dropped collection materials and the costs associated with these materials. The frequency of freezer door alarms decreased by over 80 percent, and the duration of alarms decreased by over 45 percent, depending on the empirical specification. We also observed a roughly 40 percent reduction in uncollapsed cardboard, with no statistically significant results for other types of contaminants. Importantly, for each of the interventions, we do not find evidence that the treatment effects waned over time or affected business operations. Our study provides significant implications for promoting sustainable behaviors in a workplace setting, filling an important gap in the literature on the effectiveness of nudges in the workplace. |
| JEL: | C93 Q40 Q53 |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33120 |
| By: | Teevrat Garg; Ryan Hanna; Jeffrey Myers; Sebastian Tebbe; David G. Victor |
| Abstract: | To minimize the environmental costs of electric vehicles (EVs) and support decarbonizing electric grids, drivers must charge their EVs when renewable energy generation is abundant. To induce a shift in charging behavior toward daytime hours with ample solar energy, we conducted a field experiment (n = 629) at a large workplace to measure the influence of environmental nudges and financial incentives on the usage and timing of workplace charging. Environmental nudges led drivers to shift from early to later morning charging, whereas discounts to charge at work increased total workplace charging and prompted a shift from daytime to early morning and overnight charging. We identify three clusters of mechanisms explaining these temporal shifts: the utilization and reliability of the charging network, concerns about charger scarcity, and driver characteristics. Finally, we compute the societal effects of CO2 emissions and marginal electricity costs of these shifts in workplace charging sessions. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11445 |