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Is information a good policy instrument to influence the energy behaviour of households?
[L'information influence-elle le comportement de réduction d'énergie des ménages ?]

Author

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  • Caroline Orset Orset

    (ECO-PUB - Economie Publique - AgroParisTech - Université Paris-Saclay - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CEC - Chaire Economie du Climat - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres)

Abstract
Despite several financial aids intended to promote the energy transition, the French people continue to buy energy-intensive products and are not interested in improving the energy performance of their homes. We propose a new measure which consists of provision of information to change individual behaviour. Currently, health and the environment are the prime concerns and we propose to encourage individuals to reduce their energy consumption by informing them of the environmental and health consequences linked to energy consumption. To test the validity of our proposal, we use the willingness to pay for more energy efficient equipment and thermal insulation. We conducted an online survey which included messages on the link between environment-energy and health-energy. We showed that it affected households' energy behaviour. We compared this strategy with policies already in place. We found that policies that combined provision of information with a subsidy, increase sales of goods that reduce energy consumption and was the best option from a social welfare perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Orset Orset, 2021. "Is information a good policy instrument to influence the energy behaviour of households? [L'information influence-elle le comportement de réduction d'énergie des ménages ?]," Post-Print hal-03284569, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03284569
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105451
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03284569
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health and environment; Energy policy; Energy efficiency; Consumer willingness to pay; Politique énergétique; Consentement à payer du consommateur; Efficacité Energétique; Santé et environnement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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