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Intergenerational Spillovers of Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Bhattacharya, Shubhro

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Constantino, Sara

    (Stanford University)

  • Mishra, Nirajana

    (Northeastern University)

  • Prakash, Nishith

    (Northeastern University)

  • Sabarwal, Shwetlena

    (The World Bank)

  • Samaddar, Dighbijoy

    (Centre for Social and Behavior Change)

  • Sherif, Raisa

    (Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finances)

Abstract

We study intergenerational spillovers of environmental education using a randomized field experiment with 1,446 child–parent pairs in Patna, India, assigned to child-only, parent-only, joint, or control arms. Treating either children or parents raises the likelihood that the untreated household member chooses a delayed recycled certificate over an immediate standard one by 25 percentage points—spillovers on this incentivized behavior run symmetrically in both directions. Spillovers on beliefs and attitudes are asymmetric, however: children shift parents' views on climate change, but little spillover runs from parents to children on other measures. Joint participation does not outperform targeting children alone once child-to-parent spillovers are accounted for, suggesting that targeting children is a more scalable, cost-effective way to promote sustainable household behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhattacharya, Shubhro & Constantino, Sara & Mishra, Nirajana & Prakash, Nishith & Sabarwal, Shwetlena & Samaddar, Dighbijoy & Sherif, Raisa, 2026. "Intergenerational Spillovers of Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IZA Discussion Papers 18809, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18809
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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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