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Targeted Information and Sustainable Consumption: Field Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Loukas Balafoutas
  • Esther Blanco
  • Raphael Epperson

Abstract

Technological progress offers new and promising ways to provide targeted information to consumers and facilitate behavioral change. We conduct a randomized controlled trial with a global supermarket chain and food producer to evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted information intervention that offers consumers individualized feedback about the sustainability of purchased products and close substitutes. We find that the majority of consumers access the information, independently of whether they have bought sustainable or unsustainable products in the past. Yet, providing the targeted information has no significant impact on consumption choices, which is neither driven by inattention to information nor price differentials.

Suggested Citation

  • Loukas Balafoutas & Esther Blanco & Raphael Epperson, 2024. "Targeted Information and Sustainable Consumption: Field Evidence," Working Papers 2024-10, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    • Handle: RePEc:inn:wpaper:2024-10
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information provision; pro-environmental behavior; sustainability; label credence goods; randomized controlled trial;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • 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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