Determinants of individual sustainable investment behavior - A framed field experiment

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2023
Volume: 209
Issue: C
Pages: 491-508

Authors (3)

Gutsche, Gunnar (not in RePEc) Wetzel, Heike (Universität Kassel) Ziegler, Andreas (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper empirically analyzes which different pecuniary and non-pecuniary motives are relevant for sustainable investments at the individual level. We examine data from an incentivized framed field experiment that was part of an online survey among a broad sample of financial decision makers in Germany. We find strong preferences for sustainable funds. These preferences are driven by both pecuniary and non-pecuniary motives. We can largely confirm the results of previous studies showing that social preferences are key to explain individual sustainable investing. In addition, we identify feelings of warm glow, financial literacy, and environmental values as further key factors. Feelings of warm glow are most relevant of these factors. Our results are thus consistent with other recent results by Heeb et al. (2022), suggesting that positive emotions play an important role in sustainable investment behavior. Our findings provide useful implications for mobilizing individual investors for sustainable development.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:209:y:2023:i:c:p:491-508
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29