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Cognitive reflection and the valuation of energy efficiency

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  • Andor, Mark A.
  • Frondel, Manuel
  • Gerster, Andreas
  • Sommer, Stephan

Abstract

Based on a stated-choice experiment among about 3600 German household heads on the purchase of electricity-using durables, this paper explores the impact of cognitive reflection on consumers’ valuation of energy efficiency, as well as its interaction with consumers’ response to the EU energy label. Using a standard cognitive reflection test, our results indicate that consumers with low cognitive reflection value energy efficiency less than those with high scores. Furthermore, we find that consumers with a low level of cognitive reflection respond strongly to grade-like energy efficiency classes and tend to disregard detailed information on annual energy use, while the opposite holds true for consumers with a high level of cognitive reflection.

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  • Andor, Mark A. & Frondel, Manuel & Gerster, Andreas & Sommer, Stephan, 2019. "Cognitive reflection and the valuation of energy efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(S1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:84:y:2019:i:s1:s0140988319303226
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2019.104527
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    Cited by:

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    3. James Carroll & Eleanor Denny & Ronan C. Lyons, 2020. "Better energy cost information changes household property investment decisions: Evidence from a nationwide experiment," Trinity Economics Papers tep1520, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    4. He, Shutong & Blasch, Julia & van Beukering, Pieter & Wang, Junfeng, 2022. "Energy labels and heuristic decision-making: The role of cognition and energy literacy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. E. Denny, 2022. "Long-term Energy Cost Labelling for Appliances: Evidence from a Randomised Controlled Trial in Ireland," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 369-409, September.
    6. de Miguel, Carlos & Filippini, Massimo & Labandeira, Xavier & Labeaga, José M. & Löschel, Andreas, 2019. "Low-carbon Transitions: Economics and Policy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(S1).
    7. Olsthoorn, Mark & Schleich, Joachim & Guetlein, Marie-Charlotte & Durand, Antoine & Faure, Corinne, 2023. "Beyond energy efficiency: Do consumers care about life-cycle properties of household appliances?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    8. Schleich, Joachim & Durand, Antoine & Brugger, Heike, 2021. "How effective are EU minimum energy performance standards and energy labels for cold appliances?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    9. Mitsutsugu Hamamoto, 2023. "Estimating consumers’ discount rates in energy-saving investment decisions: a comparison of revealed and stated approaches," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(7), pages 1-19, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental certification; Decision heuristics; Energy-using durables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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