Selected Research Papers
Carbon Tax & Saliency
This study explores the multifaceted relationship between carbon pricing, consumer behavior, and tax salience, with a focus on the implications for policymaking. A carbon tax might entail a behavioral effect on consumer choices that goes against the price effect, if there is moral licensing. Our research employs an incentive-compatible large-scale online randomized controlled trial (oRCT) to investigate individual consumption reactions to carbon taxation with respect to a import tax and a neutral price increase, respectively. A carbon tax is added on to a high-carbon product of a binary consumer choice set to address the differential in carbon footprint between the two products. Our findings reveal a nuanced response to carbon taxation. While a segment of the sample displays the anticipated reduction in their willingness to pay for taxed products, a distinct fraction of the treatment exhibits unexpected behavior and, contrary to conventional assumptions, tends to opt for low-carbon options when not taxed but shifts preferences to the higher carbon option once the carbon tax is imposed.
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Carbon Information & Engagement
In this study, we examine the impact of individualized information about greenhouse gas emissions on grocery purchases. Using a randomized field experiment, we compare the effects of individualized information on the carbon footprint of grocery purchases to individualized information on grocery spending provided through a smartphone app. Compared to the spending information, the carbon footprint information decreases emissions from groceries by 27% in the first month of treatment, with 45% reductions in emissions from beef, the highest emissions food group. Treatment effects fade in the longer run along with app engagement but persist among those engaged with the app. Our results suggest that the provision of emissions information, in particular when paired with sufficient engagement, is a promising avenue for policies to turn food consumption greener.
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Published at the Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
with Toke R. Fosgaard and Sally Sadoff
Carbon Information & Subsidies
This paper assesses the (relative) effectiveness of behaviorally informed interventions as well as price interventions—and their combination—on consumers' food choices through a pre-registered field experiment. The experimental design taps into consumers’ price sensitivity for switching from meat meals to vegetarian options and the mediating effect of information on food carbon footprint. We analyze actual food choices at a public festival with a food market area, where participants receive information on the carbon footprint of food options and financial incentives in the form of food vouchers. The analysis reveals no significant effect of the informational treatment, but evidence shows that the price intervention significantly reduces the likelihood of choosing meat-based options over vegetarian ones. Additional exploratory analyses focus on two temporal mechanisms that influence the impact of the interventions: duration of information exposure and intervention timing. The research finally considers socio-demographic characteristics, food-related attitudes, and knowledge through pre-treatment surveys, allowing for a nuanced understanding of heterogeneity.
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Under review at the Journal of Environmental Economics & Management
Sustainable Food Systems
In this meta-analysis, we use a rigorous, machine-learning assisted systematic review approach to comparatively assess the effectiveness of demand side interventions targeting actual (or incentivised) food consumption and waste behaviours of individuals and households. Based on 209 effect sizes comprising over 4.5 million observations, we find a small overall effect size across all food-consumption interventions (z = 0.15) and a small to medium effect size for food-waste interventions (z = 0.21). When accounting for moderate publication bias, these estimates are reduced to 0.10 and 0.18. Sensitivity analysis reveals significant variability in effect sizes in the existing evidence base and underscores the necessity for future research to systematically uncover the factors determining when, how and why interventions are effective.
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R&R at Nature Food
Sustained decline in tobacco during a pandemic
An estimated 8 million people die every year due to tobacco use. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the health consequences of smoking, which is a leading risk factor for more severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and death. We find large, sustained decreases in tobacco purchases during COVID-19. We estimate that weekly tobacco purchase rates decline by 24% and average quantities decline by 12% during the period spanning the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 through the end of the year. The declines are driven by regular smokers with little change in behavior among nonsmokers and increases in purchases among occasional smokers. Among regular smokers, purchase rates decline by about 30%, tobacco purchases decline by about 20% and quitting rates increase by about 10 percentage points.
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Published in Nature Communications Medicine
with Toke R. Fosgaard and Sally Sadoff
Ongoing Projects
Food Purchases & the Climate
C-OPEN CLIMATE CENTER
An ambitious large-scale, long-term collaboration between CBS, ITU and Copenhagen Municipality, approved and endorsed by CBS presidency, currently at funding application stage.
Food Purchases & the Climate
An upcoming, big-data study on supermarket consumers in collaboration with the University of Oxford. Funding secured.
The Rich & the Climate
An ongoing online experiment on excessive tax and high-income consumers within CBS Sustainability Center. Funding secured (Carlsberg Foundation).
Exogenous Shocks & Consumption
A secondary-data research on economic shocks and consumption in collaboration with the University of Bologna. Funding secured.
Carbon vs. Health Framing
A project on an economic analysis and behavioural evaluation of a new product market introduction and share through experimental investigation of consumers decision-making in collaboration with the Danish Technical University as part of the Mycoflavor project funded by Agrifoodture (Innovation Fund). Funding secured.