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Thou shalt not sell nature: How taboo trade-offs can make us act pro-environmentally, to clear our conscience

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  • Stikvoort, Britt
  • Lindahl, Therese
  • Daw, Tim M.

Abstract

Many nature/natural areas are threatened by economic development and urban expansion. Oftentimes nature is not considered part of the cost/benefit analyses preceding such economic development, and most people find it offensive to price-tag nature. To pit (sacred) nature-values against other monetized values (these are so-called taboo trade-offs) is seen as morally offensive. Non-nature related taboo trade-offs (e.g. between life-saving and money-saving) were found elsewhere to induce moral cleansing — attempts to reaffirm one's own moral position by performing overly moral ‘cleansing’ behaviour. This study investigated whether trade-offs between nature as sacred value and money as secular induces such moral cleansing in shape of pro-environmental behaviour (PEB).

Suggested Citation

  • Stikvoort, Britt & Lindahl, Therese & Daw, Tim M., 2016. "Thou shalt not sell nature: How taboo trade-offs can make us act pro-environmentally, to clear our conscience," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 252-259.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:129:y:2016:i:c:p:252-259
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.05.012
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    3. Chorus, Caspar G. & Pudāne, Baiba & Mouter, Niek & Campbell, Danny, 2018. "Taboo trade-off aversion: A discrete choice model and empirical analysis," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 37-49.
    4. Klauer, Bernd & Bartkowski, Bartosz & Manstetten, Reiner & Petersen, Thomas, 2017. "Sustainability as a Fair Bequest: An Evaluation Challenge," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 136-143.

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