Adverse welfare shocks and pro-environmental behavior: Evidence from the global economic crisis

Ivlevs, Artjoms

Abstract

© 2018 International Association for Research in Income and Wealth This paper examines the effects of the 2008–9 global economic crisis on people's pro-environmental behavior and willingness to pay for climate change mitigation. We hypothesize that the crisis has affected pro-environmental behaviors through tightening of budget constraints and relaxation of time constraints. Using data from a large representative survey Life in Transition II, conducted in 35 European and Central Asian countries in 2010, we find that people adversely affected by the crisis are more likely to act in an environmentally-friendly way, but less likely to be willing to pay for climate change mitigation. Our findings confirm the importance of time and budget constraints for undertaking pro-environmental action, and highlight a potentially positive role of adverse, external welfare shocks in shaping pro-environmental behavior.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 12, 2018
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 13, 2020
• Journal: Review of Income and Wealth
• Print ISSN: 0034-6586
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-4991
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 293-311
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12355
• Keywords: global economic crisis, adverse welfare shocks, pro-environmental behaviour, willingness to pay for climate change mitigation, transition economies
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/846007
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12355
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ivlevs, A. (2017) Adverse welfare shocks and pro-environmental behaviour: Evidence from the global economic crisis. Review of Income and Wealth. ISSN 1475-4991, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12355. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving
• Contract Date: Nov 3, 2017