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The effect of nudges on the external costs of transport

Research Project
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01.01.2021
 - 31.12.2023

This study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of recurring reports on total external costs in the mobility context. The study included 777 participants from Switzerland who tracked their mobility using a GPS tracker app. Results show that the reports reduced the total of measured external costs (including health, congestion, and climate externalities) by 2.0%, though this reduction was not statistically significant. Climate related costs that include CO2 emission reduced by 5.7%. Reports with positive feedback led to reductions in external costs, while negative feedback had a "boomerang effect" with participants generating even higher external costs. The effects of the treatment diminished over time, resulting in no significant long-term effects. Finally, the average participant values the received feedback between 0.62 and 2.42 Swiss francs per report.

Members (3)

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Beat Hintermann

Principal Investigator
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Alexander Götz

Project Member
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Nina Lustenberger

Project Member