When nudges aren't enough: Norms, incentives and habit formation in public transport usage
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
When nudges aren't enough : Norms, incentives and habit formation in public transport usage. / Gravert, Christina; Olsson Collentine, Linus.
In: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Vol. 190, 10.2021, p. 1-14.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - When nudges aren't enough
T2 - Norms, incentives and habit formation in public transport usage
AU - Gravert, Christina
AU - Olsson Collentine, Linus
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - In a large-scale natural experiment with over 14,000 individuals, we investigate whether public transport usage can be influenced by social norms and by economic incentives. Despite their effectiveness in other domains, we find a tightly estimated zero for descriptive social norms on ridership. Increasing the economic incentive, by doubling the trial period, significantly increases uptake and long-term usage. This increase is sustained for months after removing the incentive. The effect is mainly driven by initial low users, which is evidence for habit formation and highlights the heterogeneous effects of the policy. While there is scope for long-term behavior change, norm nudges might not be the most promising approach.
AB - In a large-scale natural experiment with over 14,000 individuals, we investigate whether public transport usage can be influenced by social norms and by economic incentives. Despite their effectiveness in other domains, we find a tightly estimated zero for descriptive social norms on ridership. Increasing the economic incentive, by doubling the trial period, significantly increases uptake and long-term usage. This increase is sustained for months after removing the incentive. The effect is mainly driven by initial low users, which is evidence for habit formation and highlights the heterogeneous effects of the policy. While there is scope for long-term behavior change, norm nudges might not be the most promising approach.
KW - Field experiment
KW - Habit formation
KW - Nudging
KW - Social norms
KW - Transport
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - field experiment
KW - habit formation
KW - nudging
KW - social norms
KW - transport
U2 - 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.07.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.07.012
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85111981132
VL - 190
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
JF - Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
SN - 0167-2681
ER -
ID: 282941855