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Can APPealing and more informative bills "nudge" individuals into conserving electricity?

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  • Meub, Lukas
  • Runst, Petrik
  • von der Leyen, Kaja

Abstract

We use a field experiment on energy billing in a German region to evaluate the effect of two behavioral nudges (consumption feedback and social comparison) on electricity consumption. Similar experiments have revealed significant treatment effects, yet the individual variance has proven to be substantial. On grounds of these heterogeneous treatment effects and the possibility of cross-country behavioral differences, additional experiments are warranted. For our German participants with low pretreatment consumption compared to many other countries, we find no treatment effects. From this, we deduce that the effect of consumption feedback and social comparison is highly context dependent.

Suggested Citation

  • Meub, Lukas & Runst, Petrik & von der Leyen, Kaja, 2019. "Can APPealing and more informative bills "nudge" individuals into conserving electricity?," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 372, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2019.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cegedp:372
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy consumtion; Electricity; Consumtion feedback;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • P18 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Energy; Environment
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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