Complementarities in Behavioral Interventions: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Resource Conservation

Ximeng Fang, Lorenz Goette, Bettina Rockenbach, Matthias Sutter, Verena Tiefenbeck, Samuel Schoeb and Thorsten Staake
Additional contact information
Ximeng Fang: University of Oxford
Lorenz Goette: University of Bonn
Bettina Rockenbach: University of Cologne
Verena Tiefenbeck: Friedrich-Alexander Universität Nürnberg-Erlangen, ETH Zurich
Samuel Schoeb: University of Bamberg
Thorsten Staake: University of Bamberg, ETH Zurich

No 2023_13, Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods from Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods

Abstract: Behavioral policy often aims at influencing behavior by mitigating biases due to, e.g., imperfect information or inattention. We study how this is affected by the simultaneous presence of multiple biases arising from different sources, through a field experiment on resource conservation in an energyand water-intensive everyday activity (showering). One intervention, shower energy reports, primarily targeted knowledge about environmental impacts; another intervention, real-time feedback, primarily targeted salience of resource use. We find a striking complementarity. While only the latter induced significant conservation effects when implemented in isolation, each intervention became more effective when implemented jointly. This is consistent with predictions from a theoretical framework that highlights the importance of targeting all relevant sources of bias to achieve behavioral change.

Keywords: behavioral public policy; pro-environmental behavior; limited attention; information provision; real-time feedback; policy interactions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 D90 Q41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-ene, nep-env, nep-exp, nep-nud and nep-reg
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Journal Article: Complementarities in behavioral interventions: Evidence from a field experiment on resource conservation (2023)
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