Abstract
This study uses an incentive-compatible experimental online supermarket to assess whether prior environmentally-friendly behaviour outside the store and carbon taxes motivate sustainable consumption. Previous research suggests that past decisions may influence current decisions because consumers compensate morally desirable and undesirable acts over time, and carbon taxes have been promoted as effective tools to reduce the carbon footprint of food baskets. After controlling for past consumption, results show that being required to recall past environmentally-friendly behaviour before shopping led consumers to purchase more sustainable food baskets. Carbon taxation also strongly reduces the carbon footprint of food baskets, showing no interaction with the task of recalling past behaviours.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Environmental Economics and Management |
Early online date | 5 Jul 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 5 Jul 2018 |
Keywords
- sustainable consumption
- moral licensing
- priming
- carbon footprint
- carbon tax