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Determinants of sustainable consumption in France: the importance of social influence and environmental values

Author

Listed:
  • Nathalie Lazaric

    (University of Côte d’Azur)

  • Fabrice Guel

    (University of Paris Sud)

  • Jean Belin

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • Vanessa Oltra

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • Sébastien Lavaud

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • Ali Douai

    (University of Côte d’Azur)

Abstract

Our article provides empirical findings for France related to sustainable consumption and what triggers sustainable behavior. We investigate various potential key explanatory variables including social influence and environmental values, among others. Our main contribution is to survey and to analyze a set of consumption practices (rather than the examination of single practices as in most of the literature) for a large sample of more than 3000 households. The survey was conducted in France in 2012. We use cluster analysis to identify and describe the different consumer behavior profiles. This methodology identifies three clusters of consumers characterized by diverse concerns related to the environmental impact of their consumption. Based on these clusters, ordered Logit models are fitted on three levels of sustainable consumption behaviors. Our results emphasize the importance of age, gender, education, environmental concern and peer effects for spurring sustainable consumption. We discuss the role of peer pressure as a major determinant. Learning about sustainable behavior from peers seems to complement changing environmental values and stimulate pro-environmental behavior. Our findings show that local externalities clearly outweigh the global consequences related to the promotion of sustainable consumption behaviors that is, the ability to learn in small networks is critical for the promotion of trust and the exchange of ideas and practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathalie Lazaric & Fabrice Guel & Jean Belin & Vanessa Oltra & Sébastien Lavaud & Ali Douai, 2020. "Determinants of sustainable consumption in France: the importance of social influence and environmental values," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 1337-1366, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:30:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1007_s00191-019-00654-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-019-00654-7
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    2. Olga V. Zakharova & Lyudmila G. Suvorova & Mariya V. Bogdanova & Anton Viktorovich Zakharov & Anton Permyakov & Irina Yuryevna Malykh, 2021. "Environmental Education: Ecological Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples in Western Siberia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Roslilee Ab. Halim & Soo-Cheng Chuah, 2023. "Household Sustainable Consumption Intention," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 15(3), pages 59-66.
    4. Spandagos, Constantine & Baark, Erik & Ng, Tze Ling & Yarime, Masaru, 2021. "Social influence and economic intervention policies to save energy at home: Critical questions for the new decade and evidence from air-condition use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Emily Tanimura, 2021. "Statistical discrimination without knowing statistics: blame social interactions?," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-03096126, HAL.
    6. Iljana Schubert & Judith I. M. de Groot & Adrian C. Newton, 2021. "Challenging the Status Quo through Social Influence: Changes in Sustainable Consumption through the Influence of Social Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Emily Tanimura, 2021. "Statistical discrimination without knowing statistics: blame social interactions?," Working Papers hal-03096126, HAL.
    8. Di Novi, Cinzia & Marenzi, Anna, 2022. "Improving health and sustainability: Patterns of red and processed meat consumption across generations," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(12), pages 1324-1330.
    9. Han, Fei & Zhou, Jiehong & Yan, Zhen & Yin, Shijiu, 2022. "Nudge to be Green? The Influence of Social Comparison on Consumers' Consumption Behaviors: A Case Study of Green Takeaway Packaging," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322228, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. repec:grz:wpsses:2021-05 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Q58; D23; D11; D91; R21;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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