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How (Not) to Incentivize Sustainable Mobility? Lessons from a Swiss Mobility Competition

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  • Silvio Sticher
  • Hannes Wallimann
  • Noah Balthasar

Abstract

We investigate the impact of a gamified experiment designed to promote sustainable mobility among students and staff members of a Swiss higher-education institution. Despite transportation being a major contributor to domestic CO2 emissions, achieving behavioral change remains challenging. In our two-month mobility competition, structured as a randomized controlled trial with a 3x3 factorial design, neither monetary incentives nor norm-based nudging significantly influences mobility behavior. Our (null) results suggest that there is no "gamified quick fix" for making mobility substantially more sustainable. Also, we provide some lessons learned on how not to incentivize sustainable mobility by addressing potential shortcomings of our mobility competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvio Sticher & Hannes Wallimann & Noah Balthasar, 2024. "How (Not) to Incentivize Sustainable Mobility? Lessons from a Swiss Mobility Competition," Papers 2409.11142, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2409.11142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sengupta, Raja & Walker, Joan L., 2015. "Quantified Traveler: Travel Feedback Meets the Cloud to Change Behavior," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt2vw4n4zc, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, 2013. "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Leonard C MacLean & William T Ziemba (ed.), HANDBOOK OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING Part I, chapter 6, pages 99-127, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Francesca Cellina & Dominik Bucher & Francesca Mangili & José Veiga Simão & Roman Rudel & Martin Raubal, 2019. "A Large Scale, App-Based Behaviour Change Experiment Persuading Sustainable Mobility Patterns: Methods, Results and Lessons Learnt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Raux, Charles & Chevalier, Amandine & Bougna, Emmanuel & Hilton, Denis, 2021. "Mobility choices and climate change: Assessing the effects of social norms, emissions information and economic incentives," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
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