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Pro-environmental Norms, Green Lifestyles, and Subjective Well-Being: Panel Evidence from the UK

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  • Martin Binder

    (Bard College Berlin
    Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, Blithewood, Bard College)

  • Ann-Kathrin Blankenberg

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Heinz Welsch

    (University of Oldenburg)

Abstract

Previous literature has found a significantly positive relationship between green lifestyles and subjective well-being. These well-being gains could either come from individuals’ conformity with a general social greenness norm or from adhering to a group-specific norm that enhances individuals’ sense of identity. We aim to provide a better understanding about those two channels. We construct measures of the regional prevalence and diversity of green self-image as indicators of the strength of a hypothetical green social norm. Using panel data from the UK, we find the positive relationship between individuals’ green self-image and life satisfaction to be unrelated to the prevalence of greenness attitudes, whereas the more polarized green/non-green attitudes are, the more well-being is gained from being green and the less well-being is lost from being non-green. This evidence is consistent with the idea that the relationship between a green lifestyle and subjective well-being relies (in addition to conformity with an internalized moral norm) on group identity more than on conformity with a society-wide green norm.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Binder & Ann-Kathrin Blankenberg & Heinz Welsch, 2020. "Pro-environmental Norms, Green Lifestyles, and Subjective Well-Being: Panel Evidence from the UK," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 1029-1060, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:152:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-020-02426-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02426-4
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    5. Mavisakalyan, Astghik & Sharma, Swati & Weber, Clas, 2024. "Pro-environmental behavior and subjective well-being: Culture has a role to play," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    6. Mahima Kalla & Micheal Jerowsky & Benjamin Howes & Ann Borda, 2022. "Expanding Formal School Curricula to Foster Action Competence in Sustainable Development: A Proposed Free-Choice Project-Based Learning Curriculum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subjective well-being; Norms; Green behavior; Green self-image; Diversity; Fractionalization; Polarization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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