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Fighting Climate Change: The Role of Norms, Preferences, and Moral Values

Author

Listed:
  • Andre, Peter

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

  • Boneva, Teodora

    (University of Bonn)

  • Chopra, Felix

    (IZA)

  • Falk, Armin

    (University of Bonn)

Abstract

We document individual willingness to fight climate change and its behavioral determinants in a large representative sample of US adults. Willingness to fight climate change – as measured through an incentivized donation decision – is highly heterogeneous across the population. Individual beliefs about social norms, economic preferences such as patience and altruism, as well as universal moral values positively predict climate preferences. Moreover, we document systematic misperceptions of prevalent social norms. Respondents vastly underestimate the prevalence of climate-friendly behaviors and norms among their fellow citizens. Providing respondents with correct information causally raises individual willingness to fight climate change as well as individual support for climate policies. The effects are strongest for individuals who are skeptical about the existence and threat of global warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Andre, Peter & Boneva, Teodora & Chopra, Felix & Falk, Armin, 2021. "Fighting Climate Change: The Role of Norms, Preferences, and Moral Values," IZA Discussion Papers 14518, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14518
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    moral values; economic preferences; social norms; climate policies; climate behavior; climate change; beliefs; survey experiments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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