Can nudges affect students’ green behaviour? A field experiment
Cosic, Ajla, Cosic, Hana and Ille, Sebastian (2018) Can nudges affect students’ green behaviour? A field experiment. Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, 2 (1). pp. 107-111.
Abstract
Ecological behaviour is impeded both by financial and behavioural hurdles. A growing literature in behavioural economics and psychology suggests the use of non-price intervention nudges over other monetary incentives. We analyse whether nudges are indeed efficient in promoting recycling of resources among young people, and whether the combination of different types of nudges serve as better instruments. The study was performed on primary data from a field experiment conducted among university students in Pisa over a 60-day span. We collected data on 1849 instances of plastic cup recycling at a coffee vending machine at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa. Recycling behaviour was measured by the number of plastic cups disposed in the proper dustbin, observed at the end of each day. Results of the experimental treatments showed a significant improvement in the amount of recyclable cups when a combination of nudges was applied.
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