RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Nudges, Social Norms, and Permanence in Agri-environmental Schemes
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 641
OP 655
DO 10.3368/le.92.4.641
VO 92
IS 4
A1 Laure Kuhfuss
A1 Raphaële Préget
A1 Sophie Thoyer
A1 Nick Hanley
A1 Philippe Le Coent
A1 Mathieu Désolé
YR 2016
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/92/4/641.abstract
AB The permanence of land management practices adopted under agri-environmental schemes (AESs) is often questioned. This paper investigates the drivers of farmers’ decisions as to whether to maintain “proenvironment” practices beyond the duration of a contract, and in particular the effect of social norms. Our results, based on the stated intentions of 395 French farmers, show that both pecuniary and nonpecuniary motivations drive farmers’ decisions, which are also significantly influenced by information about a social norm. Therefore “nudging” farmers, by conveying information to them on other farmers’ proenvironmental practices, appears to be a means of maintaining the long-run benefits of AESs. (JEL Q18, Q28)