Social norms, morals and self-interest as determinants of pro-environment behaviours: the case of household recycling.

Czajkowski, M., Hanley, N. and Nyborg, K. (2017) Social norms, morals and self-interest as determinants of pro-environment behaviours: the case of household recycling. Environmental and Resource Economics, 66(4), pp. 647-670. (doi: 10.1007/s10640-015-9964-3)

Abstract

This paper considers the role which selfish, moral and social incentives and pressures play in explaining the extent to which stated choices over pro-environment behaviours vary across individuals. The empirical context is choices over household waste contracts and recycling actions in Poland. A theoretical model is used to show how cost-based motives and the desire for a positive self and social image combine to determine the utility from alternative choices of recycling behaviour. We then describe a discrete choice experiment designed to empirically investigate the effects such drivers have on stated choices. A hybrid logit model is used to link statements over attitudes to recycling to choices, dealing with a potential endogeneity problem caused by the joint effects of un-observables on attitudes and choices. We find that a substantial share of our respondents prefer to sort their waste at home rather than in a central sorting facility. This preference is associated with a moral/intrinsic motivation, involving a belief that sorting at home is more thorough than central sorting.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Czajkowski, Dr Mikolaj and Hanley, Professor Nicholas
• Authors: Czajkowski, M., Hanley, N., and Nyborg, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Environmental and Resource Economics
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0924-6460
• ISSN (Online): 1573-1502
• Published Online: 03 September 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Environmental and Resource Economics 66(4):647-670
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License