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Sustainable Consumption and Mass Communication: A German Experiment

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  • Reisch, L.
  • Spash, Clive L.
  • Bietz, Sabine

Abstract

How to change economic behaviour and achieve sustainable consumption? This paper reports onusing television and internet communication as a means of engaging the least interested sectionsof society with respect to environmental problems and sustainability issues. The theory behinddeveloping such communication is described and the importance of social psychological factorsbrought to the fore. Initial results indicating the success of the approach employed in actualbroadcasts on television in Germany are then reported. Some concerns over use of the media andpublic engagement are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Reisch, L. & Spash, Clive L. & Bietz, Sabine, 2021. "Sustainable Consumption and Mass Communication: A German Experiment," SRE-Discussion Papers 04/2021, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wus009:8199
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    Cited by:

    1. Anthony Ryan & Clive L Spash & Thomas G Measham, 2009. "Household Water Collection in Canberra," Socio-Economics and the Environment in Discussion (SEED) Working Paper Series 2009-06, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.
    2. Peter JONES & Daphne COMFORT & David HILLIER, 2014. "Water Stewardship and Corporate Sustainability," Economia. Seria Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(2), pages 358-372, December.
    3. Peter Jones & Daphne Comfort & David Hillier, 2015. "Sustainability and the UK’s Leading Retailers," Tržište/Market, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, vol. 27(1), pages 93-111.
    4. Peter Jones & Daphne Comfort & David Hillier, 2016. "Interpretations of the Concept of Sustainability Amongst the UK’s Leading Food and Drink Wholesalers," Tržište/Market, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, vol. 28(2), pages 213-229.
    5. Anthony Ryan & Clive L. Spash & Thomas G Measham, 2021. "Motives Behind Domestic Greywater and Rainwater Collection: Evidence from Australia," SRE-Disc sre-disc-2021_05, Institute for Multilevel Governance and Development, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    6. Peter Jones & David Hillier & Daphne Comfort, 2017. "SMEs: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Financial Services Industry," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 3(1), pages 37-50, January.
    7. David Hillier & Daphne Comfort & Peter Jones, 2017. "The Packaging Industry and Sustainability," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 3(4), pages 405-426, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Consumption; behaviour; choice; norms; consumer theory; environment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D46 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Value Theory
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects

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