The illusion of moral superiority: Evidence from the energy crisis

Markus Dertwinkel-Kalt, Christoph Feldhaus, Axel Ockenfels and Matthias Sutter

European Economic Review, 2025, vol. 178, issue C

Abstract: We provide evidence in line with the illusion of moral superiority, a phenomenon that individuals perceive themselves to be more morally motivated than others. We analyze survey data collected during the 2022/23 energy crisis in Germany to investigate individuals’ and others’ motivations to reduce gas consumption, including both financial and non-financial (or ‘moral’) motives. Across two studies, we find evidence for the illusion of moral superiority: participants, on average, attribute stronger moral motives to their own savings compared to those of others.

Keywords: Moral behavior; Moral superiority; Energy crisis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D01 D02 H41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:178:y:2025:i:c:s0014292125001436

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.105093

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