Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability

Grieder, Manuel; Kistler, Deborah; Schlüter, Felix; Schmitz, Jan

doi:10.2139/ssrn.4351587

Publication type:	Working paper – expertise – study
Title:	Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability
Authors:	Grieder, Manuel Kistler, Deborah Schlüter, Felix Schmitz, Jan
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.2139/ssrn.4351587
Extent:	37
Issue Date:	2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	SSRN
ISSN:	1556-5068
Language:	English
Subjects:	Environmental management; Nudging; SME; Sustainability; Environmental policy; Environmental consulting; Sustainability; Field experiment; Environmental appeal; Moral appeal; Loss frame
Subject (DDC):	658.408: Security management, environmental management
Abstract:	Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the knowledge and the resources necessary to implement best ractices in environmental management. This makes them a relevant target for public policy measures trying to enhance sustainable decision making in the economy. This paper reports the results of a field experiment in Switzerland investigating behavioral economic interventions for promoting an environmental consulting program to SMEs. The experiment tested the effectiveness of appealing to the environmental vs. financial benefits of environmental consulting to promote the program to SMEs, and of loss vs. gain framed nudges. The results indicate that loss frames are not more effective than gain frames. Unlike suggested by previous approaches, appealing to the environmental benefits of sustainability measures is just as effective as underlining the financial benefits for the SMEs. Evidence from two surveys with SME decision makers corroborates this latter result: SMEs indicate that personal motivations of owners or managers and long-term environmental impact - rather than potential financial benefits - are the most important factors determining whether they are willing to implement additional environmental sustainability measures.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/27692
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit:	Center for Energy and Environment (CEE)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Grieder, M., Kistler, D., Schlüter, F., & Schmitz, J. (2023). Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4351587

Grieder, M. et al. (2023) Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability. SSRN. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4351587.

M. Grieder, D. Kistler, F. Schlüter, and J. Schmitz, “Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability,” SSRN, 2023. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4351587.

GRIEDER, Manuel, Deborah KISTLER, Felix SCHLÜTER und Jan SCHMITZ, 2023. Not only for the money : nudging SMEs to promote environmental sustainability. SSRN

Grieder, Manuel, Deborah Kistler, Felix Schlüter, and Jan Schmitz. 2023. “Not Only for the Money : Nudging SMEs to Promote Environmental Sustainability.” SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4351587.

Grieder, Manuel, et al. Not Only for the Money : Nudging SMEs to Promote Environmental Sustainability. SSRN, 2023, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4351587.