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Farmers follow the herd : a theoretical model on social norms and payments for environmental services

Author

Listed:
  • Philippe Le Coent

    (BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)

  • Raphaële Preget

    (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)

  • Sophie S. Thoyer

    (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)

Abstract

This article analyses the role played by social norms in farmers' decisions to enroll into an agri-environmental scheme (AES). First, it develops a simple theoretical model highlighting the interplay of descriptive and injunctive norms in farmers' utility functions. Second, an empirical valuation of the effect of social norms is provided based on the results of a stated preference survey conducted with 98 wine-growers in the South of France. Proxies are proposed to capture and measure the weight of social norms in farmers' decision to sign an agri-environmental contract. Our empirical results indicate that the injunctive norm seems to play a stronger role than the descriptive norm.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Le Coent & Raphaële Preget & Sophie S. Thoyer, 2021. "Farmers follow the herd : a theoretical model on social norms and payments for environmental services," Post-Print halshs-03060492, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03060492
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-020-00532-y
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03060492v1
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    Cited by:

    1. Henderson, Stuart & Davidova, Sophia & Bailey, Alastair & Latruffe, Laure & Vedrine, Lionel & Desjeux, Yann, 2021. "Ecological Agriculture and Return to Skills: A Comparison between France and the UK," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315217, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio & Sagebiel, Julian & Rommel, Jens & Olschewski, Roland, 2021. "Types of collective action problems and farmers’ willingness to accept agri-environmental schemes in Switzerland," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    3. Chai, Yuan & J. Pannell, David & G. Pardey, Philip, 2023. "Nudging farmers to reduce water pollution from nitrogen fertilizer," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. Cordelia Kreft & Robert Huber & David Schäfer & Robert Finger, 2024. "Quantifying the impact of farmers' social networks on the effectiveness of climate change mitigation policies in agriculture," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(1), pages 298-322, February.
    5. Bourceret, Amélie & Accatino, Francesco & Robert, Corinne, 2024. "A modeling framework of a territorial socio-ecosystem to study the trajectories of change in agricultural phytosanitary practices," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 494(C).
    6. Yanbing Wang & Niklas Möhring & Robert Finger, 2023. "When my neighbors matter: Spillover effects in the adoption of large‐scale pesticide‐free wheat production," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(2), pages 256-273, March.
    7. Karki, Dipesh, 2023. "Factors affecting nonpayment of water service by rural households in Nepal," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Lago, Manuel E. & Samahita, Margaret & Doyle, Orla, 2025. "Unraveling gender norms: Social and personal norms in the preferential promotion of women," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    9. Kuhfuss, Laure & Préget, Raphaële & Thoyer, Sophie & de Vries, Frans P. & Hanley, Nick, 2022. "Enhancing spatial coordination in payment for ecosystem services schemes with non-pecuniary preferences," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    10. Pauline Pedehour & Lionel Richefort, 2022. "Empowerment of Social Norms on Water Consumption," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 82(3), pages 625-655, July.
    11. 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).
    12. Huang, Iona Y. & Behrendt, Karl & Parker, Eleanor & Hill, Nigel & Purewal, Amandeep Kaur & Swales, David & Baker, Sarah, 2022. "Ready or not, here I come: Understanding English farmers perceptions of the changes in UK agricultural and environmental policy," 96th Annual Conference, April 4-6, 2022, K U Leuven, Belgium 321210, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    13. Massfeller, Anna & Meraner, Manuela & Hüttel, Silke & Uehleke, Reinhard, 2022. "Farmers' acceptance of results-based agri-environmental schemes: A German perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles

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