Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

12-2018

Abstract

There has been a surge in the application of behavioral insights for environmental policymaking. It is often presented as an easy and low-cost intervention to alter individual behavior. However, there is limited insight into the cost effectiveness of these attempts and the impact of inserting behavioral policy instruments into an existing mix of traditional tools in a particular policy sector. Furthermore, there has been little focus on the intersection of large behavioral datasets and how they could complement behavioral insights. We present a conceptual overview of how the intersection of big data and behavioral knowledge would work in the renewable energy sector. We indicate that inserting behavioral insights into the energy instrument mix is complex due to technological trajectories, path dependencies and resistance from incumbent industries to change production patterns. We also highlight the underutilized role of large behavioral datasets that can inform not only policy implementation, but also policy design and evaluation efforts. Drawing on these findings, we introduce future research streams of government capacity in combining behavioral insights and data, the compatibility of this information with existing policy instruments and how this affects policy change.

Keywords

Behavioral insights, Big data, Policy instruments, Renewable energy

Discipline

Energy Policy | Organization Development | Public Policy

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Energy Policy

Volume

123

First Page

360

Last Page

366

ISSN

0301-4215

Identifier

10.1016/j.enpol.2018.09.006

Publisher

Elsevier

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.09.006

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