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Information overload and environmental degradation: Learning from H.A. Simon and W. Wenders

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  • Luzzati, Tommaso
  • Tucci, Ilaria
  • Guarnieri, Pietro

Abstract

This paper discusses the relevance of information overload for explaining environmental degradation, insofar it can reduce individuals' awareness of the unsustainable side-effects of their choices. This “myopia” is reinforced by the increased distance from nature in everyday life brought about by the abundance of exosomatic energy. The departure point of the paper is to show that two outstanding intellectuals, engaged in very different fields, have set forth very similar reflections on the effects of information overload, namely the film director Wim Wenders and the social scientist, really a polymath, Herbert Simon, whose relevance to ecological economics has been recognised. The presentation of their ideas is then complemented by a presentation of the state of the art on information overload, which allows moving to our core argument about environmental degradation.

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  • Luzzati, Tommaso & Tucci, Ilaria & Guarnieri, Pietro, 2022. "Information overload and environmental degradation: Learning from H.A. Simon and W. Wenders," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:202:y:2022:i:c:s0921800922002555
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107593
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    1. Renata Dagiliūtė, 2023. "Environmental Information: Different Sources Different Levels of Pro-Environmental Behaviours?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Luzzati, Tommaso & Baraldi, Stefano & Ermini, Sara & Faita, Claudia & Faralla, Valeria & Guarnieri, Pietro & Lusuardi, Luca & Santalucia, Vincenzo & Scipioni, Sara & Sirizzotti, Matteo & Innocenti, Al, 2025. "Can improving climate change perception lead to more environmentally friendly choices? Evidence from an immersive virtual environment experiment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Shashi, & Centobelli, Piera & Cerchione, Roberto & Jhamb, Deepika, 2023. "Double-edged circularity: Comparative assessment of circular and non-circular consumers," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    4. Han, Myat Su & Zhang, Yiwen & Liu, Cinnie, 2025. "How do two facets of social media interaction shape waste sorting behaviour? Empirical evidence from Beijing, China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    5. Drews, Stefan, 2025. "Towards systems-oriented behavioral ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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