Peer Effects in Residential Water Conservation: Evidence from Migration

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2020
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
Pages: 107-33

Authors (3)

Bryan Bollinger (not in RePEc) Jesse Burkhardt (not in RePEc) Kenneth T. Gillingham (Yale School of the Environment)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

Social interactions are widely understood to influence consumer decisions in many choice settings. This paper identifies causal peer effects in residential water conservation during the summer using variation from movers. We classify high-resolution remote sensing images to provide evidence that conversions of green landscaping to dry landscaping are a primary determinant of the reductions in water consumption. We also find suggestive evidence that without a price signal, peer effects are muted, indicating a possible complementarity between information and prices. These results inform water use policy in many areas of the world threatened by recurring drought conditions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:107-33
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25