Work

Take the Good With the Bad, and the Bad With the Good? An Experiment on Pro‐Environmental Compensatory Behavior

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study investigates the extent to which people are subject to moral licensing in the environmental domain by examining moral dynamics at a disaggregated level. Using Giving and Taking games with environmental NGOs, we found that aggregate results hide important heterogeneity. Half of the participants engaged in compensatory behavior, with highly environmentally concerned individuals compensating more frequently. Men were more consistent than women, but when they adopted moral licensing, their compensation was significantly greater than that of women. These findings suggest opportunities for improving environmental policy effectiveness.

Source: Bulletin of Economic Research

DOI: 10.1111/boer.70009

Authors: Sophie Clot, Gilles Grolleau, Lisette Hafkamp Ibanez

Institutions: Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord, ESSCA School of Management, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Center for Environmental Economics - Montpellier

Language: English

Topic: Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,900