IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v162y2022ics0301421522000398.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the impacts of social norms on low-carbon mobility options

Author

Listed:
  • Mundaca, Luis
  • Román-Collado, Rocío
  • Cansino, José M.

Abstract

Policymakers and scientists are paying increasing attention to how social norms can promote pro-environmental behaviour and sustainable energy use. We contribute to this field by experimenting with and assessing the impacts of social norms on low-carbon mobility options. Taking Sweden as a case study, we develop two complementary randomised controlled experiments to: 1) analyse the role of social norms in promoting the adoption of car sharing services (CSS) via descriptive and injunctive norms (N = 720); and 2) investigate potential crowd out effects when injunctive norms are used to promote a low-carbon transport hierarchy (N = 730). First-order effects show that social norms have a positive but marginal impact on the willingness to adopt CSS, and only injunctive norms have the potential to steer behaviour in the desired direction. Results also suggest that concerns about potential substitution effects between low-carbon transport options and CSS are not valid. With due limitations, our findings have various implications for policymaking, notably that for social norms to be effective, other policy instruments are critically needed. Of particular importance are the environmental effectiveness of CSS and complementarities between public transport and active mobility (i.e. walking and cycling).

Suggested Citation

  • Mundaca, Luis & Román-Collado, Rocío & Cansino, José M., 2022. "Assessing the impacts of social norms on low-carbon mobility options," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:162:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522000398
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112814
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522000398
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112814?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nakamura, Kazuki & Hayashi, Yoshitsugu, 2013. "Strategies and instruments for low-carbon urban transport: An international review on trends and effects," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 264-274.
    2. Scheepers, C.E. & Wendel-Vos, G.C.W. & den Broeder, J.M. & van Kempen, E.E.M.M. & van Wesemael, P.J.V. & Schuit, A.J., 2014. "Shifting from car to active transport: A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 264-280.
    3. Stefan Bakker & Mark Zuidgeest & Heleen de Coninck & Cornie Huizenga, 2014. "Transport, Development and Climate Change Mitigation: Towards an Integrated Approach," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 335-355, May.
    4. Rens Meijkamp, 1998. "Changing consumer behaviour through eco‐efficient services: an empirical study of car sharing in the Netherlands," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(4), pages 234-244, September.
    5. Prettenthaler, Franz E. & Steininger, Karl W., 1999. "From ownership to service use lifestyle: the potential of car sharing," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 443-453, March.
    6. Biel, Anders & Thogersen, John, 2007. "Activation of social norms in social dilemmas: A review of the evidence and reflections on the implications for environmental behaviour," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 93-112, January.
    7. Lattarulo, Patrizia & Masucci, Valentino & Pazienza, Maria Grazia, 2019. "Resistance to change: Car use and routines," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 63-72.
    8. Farrow, Katherine & Grolleau, Gilles & Ibanez, Lisette, 2017. "Social Norms and Pro-environmental Behavior: A Review of the Evidence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 1-13.
    9. Dolan, P. & Hallsworth, M. & Halpern, D. & King, D. & Metcalfe, R. & Vlaev, I., 2012. "Influencing behaviour: The mindspace way," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 264-277.
    10. Prieto, Marc & Baltas, George & Stan, Valentina, 2017. "Car sharing adoption intention in urban areas: What are the key sociodemographic drivers?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 218-227.
    11. Peter Kotzian & Thomas Stoeber & Florian Hoos & Barbara E. Weissenberger, 2020. "To be or not to be in the sample? On using manipulation checks in experimental accounting research," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(3), pages 469-482, April.
    12. Fleura Bardhi & Giana M. Eckhardt, 2012. "Access-Based Consumption: The Case of Car Sharing," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 39(4), pages 881-898.
    13. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    14. Firnkorn, Jörg & Müller, Martin, 2011. "What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1519-1528, June.
    15. Frederiks, Elisha R. & Stenner, Karen & Hobman, Elizabeth V., 2015. "Household energy use: Applying behavioural economics to understand consumer decision-making and behaviour," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1385-1394.
    16. Cherchi, Elisabetta, 2017. "A stated choice experiment to measure the effect of informational and normative conformity in the preference for electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 88-104.
    17. Jonas Nässén & David Andersson & Jörgen Larsson & John Holmberg, 2015. "Explaining the Variation in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Between Households: Socioeconomic, Motivational, and Physical Factors," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(3), pages 480-489, June.
    18. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9-10), pages 1082-1095, October.
    19. Metcalfe, Robert & Dolan, Paul, 2012. "Behavioural economics and its implications for transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 503-511.
    20. Tertoolen, Gerard & van Kreveld, Dik & Verstraten, Ben, 1998. "Psychological resistance against attempts to reduce private car use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 171-181, April.
    21. Shaheen, Susan A PhD & Cohen, Adam P, 2012. "Carsharing and Personal Vehicle Services: Worldwide Market Developments and Emerging Trends," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt7fh4w0q5, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    22. ÅSA Lindman & Kristina Ek & Patrik S�derholm, 2013. "Voluntary citizen participation in carbon allowance markets: the role of norm-based motivation," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(6), pages 680-697, November.
    23. Carlos Javier de las Heras-Rosas & Juan Herrera, 2019. "Towards Sustainable Mobility through a Change in Values. Evidence in 12 European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-23, August.
    24. Rabbitt, Niamh & Ghosh, Bidisha, 2016. "Economic and environmental impacts of organised Car Sharing Services: A case study of Ireland," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 3-12.
    25. Avineri, Erel, 2012. "On the use and potential of behavioural economics from the perspective of transport and climate change," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 512-521.
    26. Namazu, Michiko & Dowlatabadi, Hadi, 2018. "Vehicle ownership reduction: A comparison of one-way and two-way carsharing systems," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 38-50.
    27. Claudia F. Nisa & Jocelyn J. Bélanger & Birga M. Schumpe & Daiane G. Faller, 2019. "Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials testing behavioural interventions to promote household action on climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    28. Nancy Bocken & Alexandra Jonca & Karolina Södergren & Jenny Palm, 2020. "Emergence of Carsharing Business Models and Sustainability Impacts in Swedish Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, February.
    29. Haugen, Molly J. & Paoli, Leonardo & Cullen, Jonathan & Cebon, David & Boies, Adam M., 2021. "A fork in the road: Which energy pathway offers the greatest energy efficiency and CO2 reduction potential for low-carbon vehicles?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    30. Isabel Richter & John Thøgersen & Christian A. Klöckner, 2018. "A Social Norms Intervention Going Wrong: Boomerang Effects from Descriptive Norms Information," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    31. Kim, Jinhee & Rasouli, Soora & Timmermans, Harry, 2014. "Expanding scope of hybrid choice models allowing for mixture of social influences and latent attitudes: Application to intended purchase of electric cars," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 71-85.
    32. Zachariadis, Theodoros, 2005. "Assessing policies towards sustainable transport in Europe: an integrated model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 1509-1525, August.
    33. Christin Hoffmann & Charles Abraham & Mathew P. White & Susan Ball & Stephen M. Skippon, 2017. "What cognitive mechanisms predict travel mode choice? A systematic review with meta-analysis," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(5), pages 631-652, September.
    34. Zhou, Fan & Zheng, Zuduo & Whitehead, Jake & Washington, Simon & Perrons, Robert K. & Page, Lionel, 2020. "Preference heterogeneity in mode choice for car-sharing and shared automated vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 633-650.
    35. Martin, Elliot & Shaheen, Susan, 2011. "The Impact of Carsharing on Public Transit and Non-Motorized Travel: An Exploration of North American Carsharing Survey Data," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6xt6d5jv, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    36. Beaudoin, Justin & Farzin, Y. Hossein & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2015. "Public transit investment and sustainable transportation: A review of studies of transit's impact on traffic congestion and air quality," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 15-22.
    37. Raina Gandhi, Christopher R. Knittel, Paula Pedro,and Catherine Wolfram, 2016. "Running Randomized Field Experiments for Energy Efficiency Programs: A Practitioners Guide," Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2).
    38. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9), pages 1082-1095.
    39. Muhammad A. Saleem & Hina Ismail & Rao Akmal Ali, 2021. "Actions Speak Louder than Words: Investigating the Interplay between Descriptive and Injunctive Norms to Promote Alternative Fuel Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, August.
    40. Jacopo Bonan & Cristina Cattaneo & Giovanna d’Adda & Massimo Tavoni, 2020. "The interaction of descriptive and injunctive social norms in promoting energy conservation," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 900-909, November.
    41. Andor, Mark A. & Fels, Katja M., 2018. "Behavioral Economics and Energy Conservation – A Systematic Review of Non-price Interventions and Their Causal Effects," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 178-210.
    42. Nordfjærn, Trond & Rundmo, Torbjørn, 2015. "Environmental norms, transport priorities and resistance to change associated with acceptance of push measures in transport," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-8.
    43. Elliot Martin & Susan Shaheen, 2011. "The Impact of Carsharing on Public Transit and Non-Motorized Travel: An Exploration of North American Carsharing Survey Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-21, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jun Li & Bin Yang & Mingke He, 2023. "Capabilities Analysis of Electricity Energy Conservation and Carbon Emissions Reduction in Multi-Level Battery Electric Passenger Vehicle in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Spandagos, Constantine & Baark, Erik & Ng, Tze Ling & Yarime, Masaru, 2021. "Social influence and economic intervention policies to save energy at home: Critical questions for the new decade and evidence from air-condition use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Ropret Homar, Aja & Knežević Cvelbar, Ljubica, 2021. "The effects of framing on environmental decisions: A systematic literature review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Astrid Dannenberg & Gunnar Gutsche & Marlene Batzke & Sven Christens & Daniel Engler & Fabian Mankat & Sophia Moeller & Eva Weingaertner & Andreas Ernst & Marcel Lumkowsky & Georg von Wangenheim & Ger, 2022. "The effects of norms on environmental behavior," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202219, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Rüdiger Hahn & Felix Ostertag & Adrian Lehr & Marion Büttgen & Sabine Benoit, 2020. "“I like it, but I don't use it”: Impact of carsharing business models on usage intentions in the sharing economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1404-1418, March.
    5. Leiming Li & Yu Zhang, 2023. "An extended theory of planned behavior to explain the intention to use carsharing: a multi-group analysis of different sociodemographic characteristics," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 143-181, February.
    6. Silvestri, Alessandro & Foudi, Sébastien & Galarraga, Ibon & Ansuategi, Alberto, 2021. "The contribution of carsharing to low carbon mobility: Complementarity and substitution with other modes," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    7. Kathan, Wolfgang & Matzler, Kurt & Veider, Viktoria, 2016. "The sharing economy: Your business model's friend or foe?," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 59(6), pages 663-672.
    8. Spandagos, Constantine & Yarime, Masaru & Baark, Erik & Ng, Tze Ling, 2020. "“Triple Target” policy framework to influence household energy behavior: Satisfy, strengthen, include," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    9. Buckley, Penelope, 2020. "Prices, information and nudges for residential electricity conservation: A meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    10. Picard, Julien & Banerjee, Sanchayan, 2023. "Behavioural spillovers unpacked: estimating the side effects of social norm nudges," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120566, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Good, Nicholas, 2019. "Using behavioural economic theory in modelling of demand response," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 107-116.
    12. Candice Howarth & Ben M. Roberts, 2018. "The Role of the UK Green Deal in Shaping Pro-Environmental Behaviours: Insights from Two Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Castro-Santa, Juana & Drews, Stefan & Bergh, Jeroen van den, 2023. "Nudging low-carbon consumption through advertising and social norms," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    14. Mohseni, Soheil & Brent, Alan C. & Kelly, Scott & Browne, Will N., 2022. "Demand response-integrated investment and operational planning of renewable and sustainable energy systems considering forecast uncertainties: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    15. Kim, Jin Han & Kaemingk, Michael, 2021. "Persisting effects of social norm feedback letters in reducing household electricity usage in Post-Soviet Eastern Europe: A randomized controlled trial," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 153-161.
    16. Botao Qin & Haoyan Chen, 2022. "Does the nudge effect persist? Evidence from a field experiment using social comparison message in China," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(3), pages 689-703, July.
    17. Pan, Alexandra Q. & Martin, Elliot W. & Shaheen, Susan A., 2022. "Is access enough? A spatial and demographic analysis of one-way carsharing policies and practice," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 103-115.
    18. Vu, Ha Thu & Tran, Duc & Goto, Daisaku & Kawata, Keisuke, 2020. "Does experience sharing affect farmers’ pro-environmental behavior? A randomized controlled trial in Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    19. Qin, Botao & Shogren, Jason, 2023. "Endogenous Social Norms, Mechanism Design, and Payment for Environmental Services," MPRA Paper 112878, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Stefano Carattini & Simon Levin & Alessandro Tavoni, 2019. "Cooperation in the Climate Commons," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 13(2), pages 227-247.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:162:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522000398. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.