Abstract
The transition of the energy system and radical decarbonisation of the economy represents a strong change in a rather short period of time. In this article, we discuss the relevance of aspects of behaviour in relation to the transition of the energy system. We focus on three aspects: First, the benefits and disadvantages of local policies and initiatives. Second, aspects of behaviour relating to adaptation to technology based on a field study on energy-efficient refurbishments. Third, distributive effects of ambitious climate policy and expected changes in consumption patterns and welfare of households. Overall, preferences and behaviour have important implications for the effectiveness and long-term success of (ambitious) climate policies and should therefore receive greater attention in policy design.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aigeltinger, G., et al. (2017). Zum Stromkonsum von Haushalten in Grundsicherung: Eine Empirische Analyse Für Deutschland. Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, 18(4), 348–367.
Akerlof, G. A., & Kranton, R. E. (2000). Economics and identity. The Quarterly Journal of Economics CXV, 115(3), 715–752.
Bach, S., Kohlhaas, M., Meyer, B., Praetorius, B., & Welsch, H. (2002). The effects of environmental fiscal reform in Germany: A simulation study. Energy Policy, 30(9), 803–811.
Baumol, W. J., & Oates, W. E. (1971). The use of standards and prices for protection of the environment. The Swedish Journal of Economics, 73(1), 42–54.
Baumol, W. J., & Oates, W. E. (1988). The theory of environmental policy (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Buchholz, W., & Heindl, P. (2015). Ökonomische Herausforderungen Des Klimawandels. Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, 16(4), 324–350.
Calì, D., et al. (2016). Energieeinsparpotential Sanierter Wohngebäude Unter Berücksichtigung Realer Nutzungsbedingungen. Berlin: Fraunhofer IPK.
Chen, Y., & Li, S. X. (2009). Group identity and social preferences. The American Economic Review, 99(1), 431–457.
Deaton, A. (2016). Measuring and understanding behavior, welfare, and poverty. American Economic Review, 106(6), 1221–1243.
Ellerman, A. D., & Buchner, B. K. (2007). The European Union emissions trading scheme: Origins, allocation, and early results. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 1(1), 66–87.
Enseling, A., & Hinz, E. (2008). Wirtschaftlichkeit Energiesparender Maßnahmen Im Bestand Vor Dem Hintergrund Der Novellierten EnEV. Darmstadt: IWU.
Espey, J. A., & Espey, M. (2004). Turning on the lights: A meta-analysis of residential electricity demand elasticities. Journal of Agricultural and Applies Economics, 36(1), 65–81.
European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. (2001). Directive 2001/77/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 27 september 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market. Official Journal of the European Communities L, 283, 33–40.
Farmer, J. D., Hepburn, C., Mealy, P., & Teytelboym, A. (2015). A third wave in the economics of climate change. Environmental and Resource Economics, 62(2), 329–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-015-9965-2.
Frankfurt, H. (2015). On inequality. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Gallier, C. et al. (2017). Leveling up? An inter-neighborhood experiment on parochialism and the efficiency of multi-level public goods provision. ZEW discussion paper (No. 17–012).
Gerarden, T. D., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2017). Assessing the energy-efficiency gap. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(4), 1486–1525.
Gerber, S. (2015). Küche, Kühlschrank, Kilowatt. Zur Geschichte Des Privaten Energiekonsums in Deutschland. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag.
Gill, B., Kossmann, B., & von Wangenheim, G. (2016). Wege Aus Dem Vermieter-Mieter-Dilemma Bei Der Energetischen Modernisierung: Einsparabhängige Statt Kostenabhängige Refinanzierung.
Gillingham, K., & Palmer, K. (2014). Bridging the energy efficiency gap: Policy insights from economic theory and empirical evidence. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 8(1), 18–38.
Grösche, P., & Schröder, C. (2013). On the redistributive effects of Germany’s feed-in tariff. Empirical Economics, 46(4), 1339–1383.
Guerra-Santin, O., Romero Herrera, N., Cuerda, E., & Keyson, D. (2016). Mixed methods approach to determine occupants - behaviour analysis of two case studies. Energy and Buildings, 130, 546–566.
Hargreavesn, T., Nye, M., & Burgess, J. (2010). Making energy visible: A qualitative field study of how householders interact with feedback from smart energy monitors. Energy Policy, 38(10), 6111–6119.
Heindl, P. (2017). Sozialpolitische Konsequenzen Der Energiewende. Ökologisches Wirtschaften, 32(3), 40–46.
Heindl, P., & Kanschik, P. (2016). Ecological sufficiency, individual liberties, and distributive justice: Implications for policy making. Ecological Economics, 126, 42–50.
Heindl, P. & Liessem, V. (2017). Ursachen von Stromsperren in Privathaushalten: Empirische Ergebnisse Aus Der Allgemeinen Sozialberatung. ZEW discussion paper 17–061:1–24.
Henger, R., & Voigtländer, M. (2011). Einflussfaktoren Auf Die Rentabilität Energetischer Sanierungen Bei Mietobjekten Vermieter-Mieter-Dilemma Literaturüberblick. IW-Trends - Vierteljahresschrift zur empirischen Wirtschaftsforschung, 38(1/11), 1–19.
Hirschl, B. (2008). Erneuerbare Energien-Politik. Eine Multi-Level Policy-Analyse Mit Fokus Auf Den Deutschen Strommarkt. Wiesbaden: Springer.
Horn, M. (1977). Die Energiepolitik Der Bundesregierung von 1958 Bis 1972. In J. Broermann (Ed.), Zur Bedeutung Der Penetration Ausländischer Ölkonzerne in Die Energiewirtschaft Der BRD Für Die Abhängigkeit Interner Strukturen Und Entwicklungen. Berlin: Volkwirtsc.
Kern, K., Koenen, S., & Löffelsend, T. (2003). Die Umweltpolitik Der Rot–grünen Koalition – Strategien Zwischen Nationaler Pfadabhängigkeit Und Globaler Politikkonvergenz. WZB Discussion Paper SP IV 2003–103 37 S.
KfW/IW Köln. (2010). Wohngebäudesanierer-Befragung 2010. Hintergründe Und Motive Zur Energetischen Sanierung Des Wohnungsbestands. Frankfurt am Main.
Konow, J. (2003). Which is the fairest one of all? A positive analysis of justice theories. Journal of Economic Literature XLI(December), 41, 1188–1239.
Musgrave, R. A. (2002). A brief history of fiscal doctrine. In A. J. Auerbach & M. Feldstein (Eds.), Handbook of public economics (Vol. I, pp. 1–59). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Schröder, C., & Grösche, P. (2015). Plädoyer Für Einen Energiesoli. Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, 16(4), 367–378.
Schulte, I., & Heindl, P. (2017). Price and income elasticities of residential energy demand in Germany. Energy Policy, 102(3), 512–528.
Sen, A. (1967). Isolation, assurance and the social rate of discount. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 81(1), 112–124.
Suding, P. H. (1989). Policies affecting energy consumption in the Federal Republic of Germany. Annual Review of Energy, 14, 205–2039.
Sunikka-Blank, M., & Galvin, R. (2012). Introducing the Prebound effect: The gab between performance and actual energy consumption. Building Research & Information, 40(3), 260–273.
Tullock, G. (1981). Why so much stability. Public Choice, 37(2), 189–202.
Tweed, C., Humes, N., & Zapata-Lancaster, G. (2015). The changing landscape of thermal experience and warmth in older people’s dwellings. Energy Policy, 84(2015), 223–232.
UBA. (2015). Daten Zur Umwelt: Umwelt, Haushalte Und Konsum. Berlin: Umweltbundesamt.
van Raaij, W. F., & Verhallen, T. M. M. (1983). Patterns of residential energy behavior. Journal of Economic Psychology, 4(1–2), 85–106.
Way, M., & Bordass, B. (2005). Making feedback and post-occupancy evaluation routine 2: Soft landings – Involving design and building teams in improving performance. Building Research & Information, 33(4), 353–360.
Wolff, A., & Weber, I. (2017). Case study: Analyzing the outcome of energetic retrofit from a tenant’s point of view – Who bears the costs? München.
Wolff, A., Weber, I., Gill, B., Schubert, J., & Schneider, M. (2017). Tackling the interplay of occupants’ heating practices and building physics: Insights from a German mixed methods study. Energy Research & Social Science, 32, 65–75.
Acknowledgements
This research benefitted from funding by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the grant agreement no. 01UT1411, Integrierte Analyse einer grünen Transformation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Heindl, P., Wolff, A., Weber, I., Reif, C., Gill, B. (2019). The Relevance of Consumer Preferences and Behaviour for Climate Policy Design: Evidence from Germany. In: Gawel, E., Strunz, S., Lehmann, P., Purkus, A. (eds) The European Dimension of Germany’s Energy Transition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03374-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03374-3_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03373-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03374-3
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)