Behavioral economics and climate change policy

John M. Gowdy
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: John Gowdy () and John Malcolm Gowdy

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2008, vol. 68, issue 3-4, pages 632-644

Abstract: The policy recommendations of most economists are based on the rational actor model. The emphasis is on achieving efficient allocation by insuring that property rights are completely assigned and that market failures are corrected. This paper takes the position that so-called behavioral "anomalies" are central to human decision-making and, therefore, should be the starting point for effective economic policies. This contention is supported by game theory experiments involving humans and closely related primates. This research suggests that the standard economic approach to climate change policy, with its focus on narrowly rational, self-regarding responses to monetary incentives, is seriously flawed.

Keywords: Behavioral; economics; Climate; change; Cooperative; behavior; Generalized; Darwinism; Neuroeconomics; Rational; actor; model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Working Paper: Behavioral Economics and Climate Change Policy (2007)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:68:y:2008:i:3-4:p:632-644

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