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A Review of Eco-labels and their Economic Impact

Yokessa, Maïmouna and Stéphan Marette ()

International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2019, vol. 13, issue 1-2, 119-163

Abstract: In many countries, various eco-labels have emerged for informing consumers about the environmental impact of the offered products. Using recent advances in the empirical and theoretical literature, this review questions the efficiency of eco-labeling. We combine a literature review with discussions of empirical examples. We underline the limitations of eco-labels for signaling credible information to consumers. In particular, both the complexity and the proliferation of eco-labels are likely to hamper their efficiency in guiding consumers. From a regulatory perspective, several studies show that eco-labels are useful, but they cannot be considered a panacea for improving environmental quality. Indeed, it is often socially optimal to combine eco-labels with other regulatory tools such as standards banning polluting products and tax/subsidy mechanisms depending on the environmental quality. The conclusion suggests research priorities for tackling unanswered questions.

Keywords: Environment; information; consumers’ behaviors; firms’ strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D8 L1 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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