International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics > Vol 18 > Issue 3

The Impact of Socially Enforced Norms on the Environment and the Role of Public Policy

Ingmar Schumacher, Ecole Polytechnique Paris, France, ingmar.schumacher@outlook.com
 
Suggested Citation
Ingmar Schumacher (2024), "The Impact of Socially Enforced Norms on the Environment and the Role of Public Policy", International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics: Vol. 18: No. 3, pp 237-284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/101.00000168

Publication Date: 12 Jun 2024
© 2024 I. Schumacher
 
Subjects
Behavioral economics,  Environmental economics,  Public economics
 
Keywords
JEL Codes: H23Q50Q58
Collective action problemssocial normsenvironmentpublic policy
 

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In this article:
1 Introduction 
2 Understanding Social Norms 
3 Social Norms and the Environment 
4 The Role of Policy to Guide Social Norms 
5 Conclusions 
References 

Abstract

In this article, I explain socially enforced norms mostly from an economist's perspective, how they emerge and how they diffuse through society. I then investigate the particular role that social norms play for the environment, looking at both the theoretical literature as well as the empirical results. Following that I discuss the reasons for which governmental intervention is necessary when it comes to dealing with social norms and the environment. I also place emphasis on the steps that policy-makers need to take in order to internalize both the externalities from the collective action problem, as well as the impact on the social norm. In addition, I discuss research gaps and provide suggestions for researchers that are interested in dealing with the joint study of collective action problems and social norms.

DOI:10.1561/101.00000168