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Does declaring a climate emergency impact consumer behavior? Evidence from the German electric car market

Author

Listed:
  • Wolfgang Maennig

    (Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg)

  • Niklas Rohde

    (Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg)

Abstract

Effects of climate emergency declarations (CEDs) have been reported in multiple cases; this is the first paper to test their potential economic impacts on the market share of electric vehicles (EVs). We use panel data on German CEDs at the district level from 2015 to 2023, employ a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach, and find that compared with districts lacking CEDs, districts with CEDs do not demonstrate significant disparities in EV registrations. We do not find evidence that climate emergencies motivate more environmentally friendly consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Maennig & Niklas Rohde, 2025. "Does declaring a climate emergency impact consumer behavior? Evidence from the German electric car market," Working Papers 082, Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg.
    • Handle: RePEc:hce:wpaper:082
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    File URL: http://www.hced.uni-hamburg.de/WorkingPapers/HCED-082.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chandra, Minal, 2022. "Investigating the impact of policies, socio-demography and national commitments on electric-vehicle demand: Cross-country study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R5 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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