Saving Water with a Nudge (or Two): Evidence from Costa Rica on the Effectiveness and Limits of Low-Cost Behavioral Interventions on Water Use

Abstract The study uses a randomized controlled trial to test the impact of simple, inexpensive, and nonpersonalized behavioral interventions (or “nudges”) on water consumption in the context of a developing country. A descriptive social norm intervention using neighborhood comparisons reduces avera...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The World Bank economic review Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 444 - 463
Main Authors: Miranda, Juan Jose, Datta, Saugato, Zoratto, Laura
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 01-06-2020
World Bank
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Summary:Abstract The study uses a randomized controlled trial to test the impact of simple, inexpensive, and nonpersonalized behavioral interventions (or “nudges”) on water consumption in the context of a developing country. A descriptive social norm intervention using neighborhood comparisons reduces average water consumption in the first two postintervention months by 4.9 percent relative to the control group, while a planning postcard intervention reduces consumption by 4.8 percent. A descriptive social norm intervention using a town-level comparison also reduces water consumption by 3.2 percent, but this effect is not statistically significant. Finally, the study's one-time interventions continue to generate statistically significant reductions in water use for up to four months after they are implemented.
ISSN:0258-6770
1564-698X
DOI:10.1093/wber/lhy025