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Can teaching children about the environment influence household behavior? Experiments in Swedish schools

Author

Listed:
  • Claes, Ek

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Söderberg, Magnus

    (Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University)

  • Kataria, Mitesh

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

Abstract

In two separate field experiments with Swedish school children aged 10-16, we evaluate variants of an Environmental Education Program designed to promote pro-environmental behavior; specifically, reduce household waste. We match the addresses of participating students with high-resolution administrative records on collected household waste. This allows us to estimate causal effects on the waste generated in households where a child was treated. Both experiments produce null effects on waste generation. In the second experiment, we are also able to estimate the effect of regular environmental education within the Swedish school curriculum, and find only weak evidence that this affects household waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Claes, Ek & Söderberg, Magnus & Kataria, Mitesh, 2024. "Can teaching children about the environment influence household behavior? Experiments in Swedish schools," Working Papers in Economics 848, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics, revised 14 Nov 2024.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0848
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2077/83917
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Field experiments; Environmental Education Programs; Household waste; Intergenerational learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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