Can we nudge farmers into saving water? Evidence from a randomised experiment
Tags:
irrigation water use , randomized controlled trials , behavioural economics , nudgesCite as:
Chabé-Ferret S, Le Coent P, Reynaud A, Subervie J, Lepercq D (2019) Can we nudge farmers into saving water? Evidence from a randomised experiment. Eur Rev Agric Econ 46:393-416 .
Found at
https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbz022
Abstract
We test whether social comparison nudges can promote water-saving behaviour among farmers as a complement to traditional CAP measures. We conducted a randomised controlled trial among 200 farmers equipped with irrigation smart meters in South-West France. Treated farmers received weekly information on individual and group water consumption over four months. Our results rule out medium to large effect-sizes of the nudge. Moreover, they suggest that the nudge was effective at reducing the consumption of those who irrigate the most, although it appears to have reduced the proportion of those who do not consume water at all.
Type:
Authors (ordered by last name)
Sylvain Chabé-Ferret ; Philippe Le Coent ; Daniel Lepercq ; Arnaud Reynaud ; Julie SubervieTools:
Countries:
France