Duke Law and Economics Society.
​Fifth Annual Triangle Law and Economics Conference​.
Jonathan Wiener
Professor, Duke Law.
Jonathan Wiener moderates this panel. He asks, "What effect may Behavioral strategies have on the environment?" He also inquires whether strategies should be targeted to different sectors of the public, and whether the choice architects should themselves be nudged. Click below to see panelist introductions, questions, and his own thoughts on the subject.
Lori Bennear
Professor, Nicholas School.
Behavioral approaches may have some effect, but ultimately carbon must be priced correctly to optimize consumption levels. On the behavioral level, though, we should be focusing our messaging on the gains from being environmentally conscious, not the losses that may arise from failing to do so. Framing is therefore very important.
Billy Pizer
Professor, Nicholas School.
Behavioral Economics may have a few percentage points of effect, but no more. Therefore, the issue must be framed so that people not only change their behavior, but their perception of the gravity of the problem. To do this, the environmental message must be moderated so that conservative folks don't reject it out of hand.
Rethinking Environmentalism:
The Panel.
How may regulations based on Behavioral Economics improve the environment?
Behavioral approaches may have positive effects on the environment, even if they are not sufficient alone to avert disaster. Panelists discuss how these approaches may not only change people's behavior, but also change how they value the environment altogether. Panelists also discuss the appropriate frames for different segments of the public.
Rick Larrick
Professor, Fuqua School of Business.
Behavioral approaches may be necessary to effect positive environmental change. For example, information about environmental impact should be presented in ways people truly understand. Also, although a moderated environmental message may not turn away skeptics, this must not sacrifice our ability to move in the right direction.
Marcus Hedahl
Professor, US Naval Academy.
Behavioral approaches should focus on how to get people to act contrary to their self-interest for the greater good. Although using relative measures to change behavior is effective, the behavioral change must be objectively significant. To achieve this, we must appeal to people's sense of justice, for the people who will be harmed are currently helpless.