Clarify the relationship between climate policy and personal preferences

Daily Science Network published a study on June 9th that observing climate -friendly policies will change people's views on what they do, and people's actual preferences are more dynamic compared to the assumptions of economics theory. Therefore, when formulating a carbon tax policy or the construction of a low -carbon infrastructure, people should consider changing preferences.

Design climate slowdown policy depends on economic models, and this study is conducive to improving such economic models and better showing changes in people's preferences. Linus Mattauch, a researcher at the Institute of Portz Climate Institute of Climate Institute of Climate, said, "preference represents personal values ​​and habits, which essentially means personal hobbies and consumption habits. Economists usually assume that people are born with life. The fixed values ​​and preferences come from always remain unchanged. Of course, this will make the calculation process easier, but in fact, this is a simplification of reality. More importantly, if people's preferences are always unchanged, it is unchanged, and the preferences are always unchanged. Then it is even more difficult to transition to the decarburization economy. "

Studies have shown that personal preferences can be found to be found. For example, when smoking is harmful and healthy in educational activities, and price intervention and smoking ban, more and more people start to quit smoking, and economics rarely understands them as changes in preferences.

Climate policy can change the way people look at things. Carbon setting is essential for achieving climate goals. If citizens think that the carbon pricing policy is reasonable, it will support carbon pricing more. At this time, they are not only consumers, but they also develop low -carbon preferences as citizens. By complying with given tax rates, they will further strengthen environmental protection. When it comes to the redesign of the city, Marthahe said that if the government invested funds to make urban infrastructure more suitable for cycling, citizens will shift from driving cars to public transportation or cycling. To better maintain this behavior preference can bring more benefits to environmental protection.

Some people may argue that the goal of changing preferences is not what the policy should do. In this regard, Mayothehe believes that if society does not discuss how preferences are formed, special interest groups will be easier to shape certain preferences. And benefit from it. Faced with the huge challenge of greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future, recognizing how the climate policy changes people's preferences and helps the use of demand -party measures to suppress carbon emissions.

Source: China Social Science Network-Journal of Social Sciences of China

Author: Wang Junmei/Compilation

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