Can Social Norms Motivate Employee Conservation Efforts?

Thumbnail Image
Date
2015-08-22
Authors
Cutrona, Carolyn
Krizan, Zlatan
McCormick, James
Nusser, Sarah
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Person
Nusser, Sarah
Professor Emerita
Person
Cutrona, Carolyn
Distinguished Professor
Person
McCormick, James
Professor Emeritus
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Economics
Abstract

A randomized experiment is used to test whether employees will take actions to lower short- and long-run electricity use when their actions are unobservable and only the firm can benefit. Results suggest that social norms act as a coordinating device supporting worker conservation efforts. Electricity use fell 5.2% on average in buildings that were provided information on their own energy use compared to that in a paired building. The energy reductions have persisted over three years. Feedback on own past usage and provision of promotional information induced smaller and
statistically insignificant reductions in electricity use.

Comments
Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Source
Copyright
Collections