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Other-regarding preferences and pro-environmental behaviour: an interdisciplinary review of experimental studies

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  • Heinz, Nicolai
  • Koessler, Ann Kathrin

Abstract

Pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) is often promoted by reinforcing or highlighting own benefits. However, considering that actors also care about the outcomes for others (i.e. they hold other-regarding preferences), PEB may also be encouraged by addressing these other-regarding preferences. In this paper, we review the results from social science experiments where interventions addressing other-regarding preferences were used to promote PEB. Based on our synthesis, we conclude that addressing other-regarding preferences can be effective in promoting (various types of) PEB in some, but not in all instances. Whether an intervention was effective depended inter alia on the pre-established preferences, cost structures and the perceived cooperation of others. Effective interventions included the provision of information on behavioural consequences, perspective-taking, direct appeals, framing and re-categorization. The interventions worked by activating other-regarding preferences, raising awareness about adverse consequences, evoking empathic concern and expanding the moral circle. We propose to take these findings as an impulse to examine policy instruments and institutions in terms of whether they activate and strengthen other-regarding preferences, thereby enabling collective engagement in PEB.

Suggested Citation

  • Heinz, Nicolai & Koessler, Ann Kathrin, 2021. "Other-regarding preferences and pro-environmental behaviour: an interdisciplinary review of experimental studies," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112984, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:112984
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    File URL: https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/112984/
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    Cited by:

    1. Otrachshenko, Vladimir & Popova, Olga, 2026. "Environment vs. economic growth: Do environmental preferences translate into support for Green parties?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    2. Chiara Binelli & Matthew Loveless, 2025. "Environmental actions, support for policy, and information’s provision: experimental evidence from the US," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(5), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe & Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Engel, Stefanie, 2023. "The impact of participatory interventions on pro-social behaviour in environmental and natural resource management Evidence from the lab and the field," EconStor Open Access Book Chapters, in: Behavioural Economics and the Environment: A Research Companion, pages 160-181, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Marco Vincenzi, 2023. "Mapping the empirical relationship between environmental performance and social preferences: Evidence from macro data," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(1), pages 85-102.
    5. Boncinelli, Leonardo & Dallinger, Luzie & Distefano, Tiziano, 2025. "C-frame thinking: Embedding behavioral economics into ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    6. Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe & Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Engel, Stefanie, 2021. "Inducing perspective-taking for prosocial behaviour in natural resource management," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Sanjit Dhami & Narges Hajimoladarvish & Pavan Mamidi, 2023. "Climate Change Risk, and Human Behavior: Theory and Evidence," CESifo Working Paper Series 10678, CESifo.
    8. Heinz, Nicolai & Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Engel, Stefanie, 2021. "Distance to climate change consequences reduces willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions – Results from an experimental online study from Germany," EconStor Preprints 246815, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe & Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Engel, Stefanie, 2022. "Fostering co-operation through participation in natural resource management. An integrative review," EconStor Preprints 253261, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    10. Suter, Manuel & Rabaa, Simon & Essl, Andrea, 2025. "The benefits of less: The effect of sufficiency gain framing on sufficiency behavior," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    11. Drews, Stefan, 2025. "Towards systems-oriented behavioral ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Y80 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines - - - Related Disciplines

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