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Does Being Intergenerationally Accountable Resolve the Intergenerational Sustainability Dilemma?

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  • Raja Rajendra Timilsina
  • Koji Kotani
  • Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Tatsuyoshi Saijo

Abstract

We address whether intergenerational accountability (IA) is effective at maintaining intergenerational sustainability (IS) by conducting lab-in-the-field experiments of IS dilemma games. In a baseline treatment, a sequence of six generations, each composed of three members, was organized, and each generation chose whether to maintain IS (sustainable option) or maximize their payoff by imposing costs on future generations (unsustainable option) via deliberation. In IA, each generation was asked to provide reasons and advice to subsequent generations, along with the decision. Results indicate that IA induces generations to choose the sustainable option with positive reasons and advice, enhancing IS.

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  • Raja Rajendra Timilsina & Koji Kotani & Yoshinori Nakagawa & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2023. "Does Being Intergenerationally Accountable Resolve the Intergenerational Sustainability Dilemma?," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 99(4), pages 644-667.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:99:y:2023:i:4:p:644-667
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/le.99.4.041420-0054R1
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    Cited by:

    1. Pankaj Koirala & Raja Rajendra Timilsina & Koji Kotani, 2021. "Deliberative Forms of Democracy and Intergenerational Sustainability Dilemma," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, July.
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    3. Saijo, Tatsuyoshi, 2017. "Future Design," Economic Review, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 68(1), pages 33-45, January.
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    4. Zhang Jingchao & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2021. "Are societies becoming proself? A topographical difference under fast urbanization in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12976-12993, September.
    5. Mostafa Shahen & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2020. "Does perspective-taking promote intergenerational sustainability?," Working Papers SDES-2020-12, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised Sep 2020.
    6. Raja R. Timilsina & Yoshinori Nakagawa & Koji Kotani, 2020. "Exploring the Possibility of Linking and Incorporating Future Design in Backcasting and Scenario Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Mostafa Shahen & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2020. "How do individuals behave in the intergenerational sustainability dilemma? A strategy method experiment," Working Papers SDES-2020-1, Kochi University of Technology, School of Economics and Management, revised May 2020.
    8. Llinos Haf Spencer & Mary Lynch & Gwenlli Mair Thomas & Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, 2023. "Intergenerational Deliberations for Long Term Sustainability," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Mostafa E. Shahen & Wada Masaya & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2020. "Motivational Factors in Intergenerational Sustainability Dilemma: A Post-Interview Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.

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