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Behavioral spillover effects from a social information campaign

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  • Carlsson, Fredrik
  • Jaime, Marcela
  • Villegas, Clara

Abstract

We investigate whether a social information campaign aimed at reducing water use causes a spillover effect on the use of electricity. On average, water use decreased by 6 percent for the treatment group. We identify a positive spillover effect on electricity use among households that had efficient use of water before the campaign. The effect is sizeable: almost a 9 percent reduction. We argue that these results are consistent with a model of cognitive dissonance where the efficient households infer information about electricity use from the water use information.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlsson, Fredrik & Jaime, Marcela & Villegas, Clara, 2021. "Behavioral spillover effects from a social information campaign," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:109:y:2021:i:c:s0095069620300486
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2020.102325
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    3. Bin Zhao & Xin Huangfu, 2023. "The More Training, the More Willingness? A Positive Spillover Effect Analysis of Voluntary Behavior in Environmental Protection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Michela Limardi & Morgane Tanvé, 2023. "Anti-Environmental Behavior: Disregard or Lack of Information?," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-04102549, HAL.
    5. Zhang, Qi & Liu, Jiangfeng & Yang, Kexin & Liu, Boyu & Wang, Ge, 2022. "Market adoption simulation of electric vehicle based on social network model considering nudge policies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    6. Stefano Clò & Tommaso Reggiani & Sabrina Ruberto, 2023. "Consumption feedback and water saving: An experiment in the metropolitan area of Milan," MUNI ECON Working Papers 2023-02, Masaryk University.
    7. Liu, Jingling & Chen, Yanying & Liang, Feng Helen, 2023. "The effects of digital economy on breakthrough innovations: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    8. Yanan Liu & H. Allen Klaiber, 2023. "Don’t Drink the Water! The Impact of Harmful Algal Blooms on Household Averting Expenditure," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 86(1), pages 29-55, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social information; Spillover effects;

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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