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Pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction: How strong is our evidence?

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  • Binder, Martin
  • Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin
  • Nickel, Jan

Abstract

A positive relationship between pro-environmental behavior and subjective well-being has been used to argue for a “double dividend”, i.e. the narrative that pro-environmental behavior is beneficial for both environment and individual, when measured in the metric of subjective well-being. Our paper argues that the (causal) evidence base for such a narrative is far too weak. We suggest methodological improvements to strengthen the credibility of multivariate regression analyses with observational data. Directed acyclic graphs help with a theoretically grounded selection of control variables and equivalence tests (and associated power considerations) help interpreting null results. Illustrating both for a novel data set from a medium sized German municipality (n=1073), we find no evidence for a positive relationship between pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction. Equivalence tests robustly reject the null hypothesis of a true effect size larger than even half that from a recent meta-analysis (r=±.11∗∗∗). We discuss the implications of these findings and conclude that this dampens enthusiasm for the narrative of the double dividend.

Suggested Citation

  • Binder, Martin & Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin & Nickel, Jan, 2025. "Pro-environmental behavior and life satisfaction: How strong is our evidence?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:237:y:2025:i:c:s0921800925001673
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108684
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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