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Solar Geoengineering, Free-Driving and Conflict: An Experimental Investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Todd L. Cherry

    (University of Wyoming
    CICERO Center for International Climate Research)

  • Stephan Kroll

    (Colorado State University)

  • David M. McEvoy

    (Appalachian State University)

  • David Campoverde

    (University of Wyoming)

Abstract

As the international community continues to fall short on reducing emissions to avoid disastrous impacts of climate change, some scientists have called for more research into solar geoengineering (SGE) as a potential temporary fix. Others, however, have adamantly rejected the notion of considering SGE in climate policy discussions. One prominent concern with considering SGE technologies to help manage climate change is the so-called “free driver” conjecture. The prediction is that among countries with different preferences for the level of SGE, the country that prefers the most will deploy levels higher than the global optimum. This paper tests the free-driver hypothesis experimentally under different conditions and institutions. We find that aggregate deployment of SGE is inefficiently high in all settings, but slightly less so when players are heterogeneous in endowments or when aggregate deployment is determined by a best-shot technology. Despite persistent inefficiencies in SGE deployment, free-driver behavior, on average, is less extreme than the theoretical predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd L. Cherry & Stephan Kroll & David M. McEvoy & David Campoverde, 2024. "Solar Geoengineering, Free-Driving and Conflict: An Experimental Investigation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(4), pages 1045-1060, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:87:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10640-024-00854-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-024-00854-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ben Greiner, 2015. "Subject pool recruitment procedures: organizing experiments with ORSEE," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 1(1), pages 114-125, July.
    2. Cherry, Todd L. & Kroll, Stephan & Shogren, Jason F., 2005. "The impact of endowment heterogeneity and origin on public good contributions: evidence from the lab," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 357-365, July.
    3. Moreno-Cruz, Juan B., 2015. "Mitigation and the geoengineering threat," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 248-263.
    4. F. D. Pope & P. Braesicke & R. G. Grainger & M. Kalberer & I. M. Watson & P. J. Davidson & R. A. Cox, 2012. "Stratospheric aerosol particles and solar-radiation management," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 2(10), pages 713-719, October.
    5. Kenneth Chan & Stuart Mestelman & Robert Moir & R. Muller, 1999. "Heterogeneity and the Voluntary Provision of Public Goods," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 2(1), pages 5-30, August.
    6. Riccardo Ghidoni & Anna Lou Abatayo & Valentina Bosetti & Marco Casari & Massimo Tavoni, 2023. "Governing Climate Geoengineering: Side Payments Are Not Enough," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(5), pages 1149-1177.
    7. Stephan Kroll & Todd Cherry & Jason Shogren, 2007. "The impact of endowment heterogeneity and origin on contributions in best-shot public good games," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 10(4), pages 411-428, December.
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