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Behavioral Insights from Field Experiments in Environmental Economics

Author

Listed:
  • Brent, Daniel A.
  • Friesen, Lana
  • Gangadharan, Lata
  • Leibbrandt, Andreas

Abstract

Many environmental decisions are based on intrinsic motivations in addition to traditional economic incentives. Field experiments allow researchers to isolate a specific causal mechanism which can help advance our understanding of consumer and firm behavior in environmental markets. This article summarizes the literature on the use of field experiments in environmental economics, focusing on framed and artefactual field experiments as well as natural experiments targeting municipal energy and water demand. We set out a theoretical framework to improve the interpretation of results from field experiments in environmental economics. In addition to providing an overview of experimental methods and findings we also lay out a set of challenges for researchers interested in running a field experiment in environmental economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Brent, Daniel A. & Friesen, Lana & Gangadharan, Lata & Leibbrandt, Andreas, 2017. "Behavioral Insights from Field Experiments in Environmental Economics," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 10(2), pages 95-143, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:now:jirere:101.00000084
    DOI: 10.1561/101.00000084
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    Cited by:

    1. Lata Gangadharan & Tarun Jain & Pushkar Maitra & Joe Vecci, 2022. "Lab-in-the-field experiments: perspectives from research on gender," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 31-59, January.
    2. Zack Dorner & Emily Lancsar, 2017. "Intrinsic motivation, health outcomes and the crowding out effect of temporary extrinsic incentives: A lab-in-the-field experiment," Monash Economics Working Papers 18-17, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    3. Anwar Shah & Karim Khan & Muhammad Zubair, 2019. "Moral Hazard, Monitoring and Punishment: Evidence from a Field Experiment," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 58(2), pages 109-134.
    4. Timothy N. Cason & Lana Friesen & Lata Gangadharan, 2021. "Complying with environmental regulations: experimental evidence," Chapters, in: Ananish Chaudhuri (ed.), A Research Agenda for Experimental Economics, chapter 4, pages 69-92, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Sabrina Eisenbarth & Louis Graham & Anouk S. Rigterink, 2021. "Can Reminders of Rules Induce Compliance? Experimental Evidence from a Common Pool Resource Setting," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 79(4), pages 653-681, August.
    6. Srivastava, A. & Van Passel, S. & Valkering, P. & Laes, E.J.W., 2021. "Power outages and bill savings: A choice experiment on residential demand response acceptability in Delhi," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    7. Werner, Peter & Riedl, Arno, 2018. "The role of experiments for policy design," Research Memorandum 022, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    8. Srivastava, Aman & Van Passel, Steven & Kessels, Roselinde & Valkering, Pieter & Laes, Erik, 2020. "Reducing winter peaks in electricity consumption: A choice experiment to structure demand response programs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    9. Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi & Deborah Peterson, 2022. "Making Change Easy Is Not Always Good," Review of Behavioral Economics, now publishers, vol. 9(4), pages 315–331-3, November.
    10. Daniel A. Brent & Lata Gangadharan & Anca Mihut & Marie Claire Villeval, 2019. "Taxation, redistribution, and observability in social dilemmas," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 21(5), pages 826-846, October.
    11. Daniel A. Brent & Lata Gangadharan & Anke D. Leroux & Paul A. Raschky, 2022. "Reducing bias in preference elicitation for environmental public goods," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(2), pages 280-308, April.
    12. Christian A. Vossler & Timothy N. Cason & James J. Murphy & Paul J. Ferraro & Todd L. Cherry & George Loewenstein & Peter Martinsson & Jason F. Shogren & Leaf van Boven & Daan van Soest, 2024. "The impact of experiments on environmental policy and natural resource management," Working Papers 2024-05, University of Tennessee, Department of Economics.
    13. Dana Abi Ghanem & Tracey Crosbie, 2021. "The Transition to Clean Energy: Are People Living in Island Communities Ready for Smart Grids and Demand Response?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, September.
    14. Lopes, Adrian A. & Tasneem, Dina & Viriyavipart, Ajalavat, 2023. "Nudges and compensation: Evaluating experimental evidence on controlling rice straw burning," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PB).
    15. Maris, Robbie & Zack, Dorner & Carlsson, Fredrik, 2024. "Nudges and Monetary Incentives: A Green Partnership?," Working Papers in Economics 842, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    16. John M. Kerr & Maria K. Lapinski & Rain Wuyu Liu & Jinhua Zhao, 2017. "Long-Term Effects of Payments for Environmental Services: Combining Insights from Communication and Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-13, September.
    17. Leah H. Palm-Forster & Paul J. Ferraro & Nicholas Janusch & Christian A. Vossler & Kent D. Messer, 2019. "Behavioral and Experimental Agri-Environmental Research: Methodological Challenges, Literature Gaps, and Recommendations," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(3), pages 719-742, July.
    18. Janusch, Nicholas & Palm-Forster, Leah H. & Messer, Kent D. & Ferraro, Paul J., "undated". "Behavioral Insights for Agri-Environmental Program and Policy Design," 2018 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 5-7, 2018, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 266299, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    Keywords

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    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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