Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Real-Time Feedback and Social Comparison Reports Impact Resource Use and Welfare: Evidence From a Field Experiment
Author-Name: Mark A. Andor
Author-Email: andor@rwi-essen.de
Author-Name: Lorenz Goette
Author-Email: ecslfg@nus.edu.sg
Author-Name: Michael K. Price
Author-Email: mkprice2@ua.edu
Author-Name: Anna Schulze-Tilling
Author-Email: schulzetilling@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Lukas Tomberg
Author-Email: lukas.tomberg@rwi-essen.de
Classification-JEL: D12, C93, Q25
Keywords: Resource Conservation, Welfare, Real-time Feedback, Social Comparison, Behavioral
Intervention, Field Experiment 

Abstract: We compare the behavior and welfare effects of two popular behavioral interventions
for resource conservation. The first intervention is social comparison
reports (SC), primarily providing consumers with information motivating behavioral
change. The second intervention is real-time feedback (RTF), primarily providing
consumers with information facilitating behavioral change. In a field experiment
with around 1,000 participants, SC reduces water and energy use per
shower by 9.4%, RTF by 28.8%, and the combination of both interventions by
35.0%. Participants’ willingness to pay for RTF and the combination is higher than
for SC. We find that all interventions enhance welfare.

Note: 
Length: 68
Creation-Date: 2025-02
Revision-Date:
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp651
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2025_651