The economic literature has devoted relatively strong attention to eco-labelling schemes. Nevertheless, while succeeding in some markets, they often fall short of their promises. We analyse the gap between the academic design of eco-labelling schemes and their real implementation. We contend that providing information is not enough. We then use recent advances in behavioural economics to inform policy makers on the potential of behavioural interventions in order to design better eco-labelling schemes. Policy relevance Many public policies, including eco-labelling schemes, are still based on an inaccurate description of human decision making, mainly borrowed from standard economics. However, numerous psychological and behavioural studies show that people reg-ularly behave in ways that contradict some standard assumptions of economic analysis. Departing from the conventional view that information-based policies such as eco-labelling schemes will quasi-automatically help mitigate issues such as climate change by guiding consumers' and firms decisions, we argue that information provision is necessary but not sufficient. Admitting that consumers' decisions are guided by factors other than price and information, and, taking systematically into account be-havioural biases can offer to policy makers low-cost levers with first-order effects in order to increase the environmental per-formance of eco-labels, or at least decrease the likelihood of counterproductive effects.
The economic literature has devoted relatively strong attention to eco-labelling schemes. Nevertheless, while succeeding in some markets, they often fall short of their promises. We analyse the gap between the academic design of eco-labelling schemes and their real implementation. We contend that providing information is not enough. We then use recent advances in behavioural economics to inform policy makers on the potential of behavioural interventions in order to design better eco-labelling schemes. Policy relevance Many public policies, including eco-labelling schemes, are still based on an inaccurate description of human decision making, mainly borrowed from standard economics. However, numerous psychological and behavioural studies show that people reg-ularly behave in ways that contradict some standard assumptions of economic analysis. Departing from the conventional view that information-based policies such as eco-labelling schemes will quasi-automatically help mitigate issues such as climate change by guiding consumers' and firms decisions, we argue that information provision is necessary but not sufficient. Admitting that consumers' decisions are guided by factors other than price and information, and, taking systematically into account be-havioural biases can offer to policy makers low-cost levers with first-order effects in order to increase the environmental per-formance of eco-labels, or at least decrease the likelihood of counterproductive effects.
Auteur(s)
Gilles Grolleau1, 2
, Lisette Ibanez1
, Naoufel Mzoughi3
, Mario F. Teisl4
1
LAMETA -
Laboratoire Montpelliérain d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée
( 2583 )
- Avenue Raymond Dugrand-CS79606, 34960 Montpellier cedex 2
- France
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique UMR 1135 ( 92114 )
;
Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques UMR 5474 ( 92699 )
;
Université de Montpellier UMR 5474 ( 410122 )
;
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 5474 ( 441569 )
;
Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier ( 474617 )
2
BSB -
Burgundy School of Business (BSB) - Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon Bourgogne (ESC)
( 336963 )
- 29 Rue Sambin-BP50608
21006 Dijon Cedex
FRANCE
- France
3
ECODEVELOPPEMENT -
Unité de recherche d'Écodéveloppement
( 37734 )
- INRAE Domaine Saint-Paul
- Site Agroparc
- 84914 AVIGNON CEDEX 9
- France
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique UR0767 ( 92114 )
4
School of Economics
( 260284 )
- Orono
- États-Unis
University of Maine ( 450972 )
Localisation géographique du document
Centre de documentation P. Bartoli, UMR Lameta, Montpellier (S BR 1771)
Public visé
Scientifique
Sous-type de document pour les Articles
Research article
Version du document
version éditeur
Langue du document
Anglais
Nom de la revue
Climate Policy
(ISSN : 1469-3062)
Publié par Taylor & Francis
Revue non référencée dans Sherpa-Romeo
Vulgarisation
Non
Comité de lecture
Oui
Audience
Non spécifiée
Date de publication
2016
Volume
16
Numéro
6
Page/Identifiant
792-902
Commentaire
"Gilles Grolleau and Naoufel Mzoughi thank the research programme ‘GESSOL’, sponsored by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy"
Indexation contrôlée
effet contreproductif
politique publique
prix
décideur
biais
changement climatique
comportement de choix
performance environnementale
programme d'écolabélisation
économie comportementale
accès à l'information
Voir aussi
https://archives-publications.inrae.fr/307819.pdf
Domaine(s)
Sciences de l'Homme et Société/Economies et finances
Financement
National Science Foundation grant no. EPS-0904155, to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine
Mots-clés
en
behavioural economics, eco-labels, information, behavioral economics, public policy, choice behavior, prices, systematic error, global change
fr
programme d'écolabélisation, économie comportementale, politique publique, décideur, comportement de choix, accès à l'information, prix, biais, changement climatique, performance environnementale, effet contreproductif