Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Fighting Climate Change: The Role of Norms, Preferences, and Moral Values
Author-Name: Peter Andre
Author-Email: p.andre@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Teodora Boneva
Author-Email: tboneva@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Felix Chopra
Author-Email: felix.chopra@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Armin Falk
Author-Email: armin.falk@briq-institute.org

Classification-JEL: D64, D83, D91, Q51, Z13
Keywords: Climate change, climate behavior, climate policies, social norms, economic preferences, moral values, beliefs, survey experiments

Abstract: We document individual willingness to fight climate change and its behavioral
determinants in a large representative sample of US adults. Willingness to fight
climate change – as measured through an incentivized donation decision – is highly
heterogeneous across the population. Individual beliefs about social norms, economic
preferences such as patience and altruism, as well as universal moral values positively
predict climate preferences. Moreover, we document systematic misperceptions of
prevalent social norms. Respondents vastly underestimate the prevalence of climatefriendly
behaviors and norms among their fellow citizens. Providing respondents with
correct information causally raises individual willingness to fight climate change as
well as individual support for climate policies. The effects are strongest for individuals
who are skeptical about the existence and threat of global warming.

Note: 
Length: 57
Creation-Date: 2021-07
Revision-Date: 
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp310
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2021_310