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Drawing on the emerging scarcity, abundance, and sufficiency (SAS) framework, this study explores how various consumer behaviors with potential environmental impacts relate to subjective evaluations of psychological resources such as economic resources, time, social networks, and emotional support. Assuming that individuals may “trade” the costs and efforts of green consumption, including the buying of eco-labeled goods, altered eating habits, and choice of transportation mode, against such psychological resources, we investigate the relationships between green consumer choices and resource evaluations using hierarchical regression analysis of data from an online panel survey. The results suggest that green consumer behaviors are positively related to subjectively evaluated resources such as feelings of economic sufficiency and other, more “relational” resources, including social networks and emotional support. Performing such behaviors may therefore lead to psychological gains. These findings do paint a rather positive picture of environmental behaviors, since they may thus be viewed as having a personal positive trade-off. Although directional effects cannot be firmly established, our study suggests that pro-environmental behavior may increase wellbeing and experienced prosperity. Future studies should further investigate these causalities and implications of these suggested relationships.
Mathias Zannakis; Sverker Molander; Lars-Olof Johansson. On the Relationship between Pro-Environmental Behavior, Experienced Monetary Costs, and Psychological Gains. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5467 .
AMA StyleMathias Zannakis, Sverker Molander, Lars-Olof Johansson. On the Relationship between Pro-Environmental Behavior, Experienced Monetary Costs, and Psychological Gains. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (19):5467.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMathias Zannakis; Sverker Molander; Lars-Olof Johansson. 2019. "On the Relationship between Pro-Environmental Behavior, Experienced Monetary Costs, and Psychological Gains." Sustainability 11, no. 19: 5467.
This paper investigates the relationship between political trust and the acceptability of government regulations in the environmental field. We hypothesise that trust in particular authorities and perceptions of the quality of institutional arrangements are important predictors of rule acceptance, which we assume is important for the long‐term legitimacy of the regulatory system. We explore the validity of this hypothesis using the case of homeowners with on‐site sewage systems (OSSs), i.e. small‐scale systems treating sewage from one or a few households that contribute to eutrophication and data was gathered through a questionnaire sent to randomly selected homeowners with OSS in Sweden. The results support propositions that political trust indeed is an important factor explaining homeowners' acceptability of governmental regulations. Political trust is in turn influenced by homeowners' perceptions of authorities being environmentally effective and impartial when enforcing rules, as well as by positive experiences of authority contacts. Policy makers and officials should thus use trust‐building approaches and factors underpinning trust such as those investigated in this study to increase rule acceptance and, in the longer‐run, pro‐environmental behaviour. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Mathias Zannakis; Are Wallin; Lars-Olof Johansson. Political Trust and Perceptions of the Quality of Institutional Arrangements - how do they influence the public's acceptance of environmental rules. Environmental Policy and Governance 2015, 25, 424 -438.
AMA StyleMathias Zannakis, Are Wallin, Lars-Olof Johansson. Political Trust and Perceptions of the Quality of Institutional Arrangements - how do they influence the public's acceptance of environmental rules. Environmental Policy and Governance. 2015; 25 (6):424-438.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMathias Zannakis; Are Wallin; Lars-Olof Johansson. 2015. "Political Trust and Perceptions of the Quality of Institutional Arrangements - how do they influence the public's acceptance of environmental rules." Environmental Policy and Governance 25, no. 6: 424-438.
This paper investigates what made possible Sweden’s “urge to go ahead” in climate policy, an issue particularly interesting given the problem with non-compliance in the climate regime. The material reveals that there was tension regarding how great burden Sweden should shoulder and to what extent emissions reductions should be made domestically. Despite this tension, Sweden decided to have a more ambitious national target (−4 %) than required by the EU burden sharing agreement (+4 %), which allocated the EU’s Kyoto Protocol targets within EU-15. It was also decided that emissions reductions should not account for the flexible mechanisms or carbon sinks. Importantly, the national −4 % target was over-implemented (−16 % in 1990–2011). These decisions were institutionalized until the center-right government in 2009 formulated the 2020 targets. Using argumentative discourse analysis, I conclude that what made possible Sweden’s comparatively ambitious climate policy was the discourse coalitions (although different in character) formed around primarily two story lines that were blended: Opportunity (in line with the discourse on ecological modernization) and Ecological Justice (in line with the discourse on civic environmentalism). However, the latter was de-emphasized by the center-right government that came to power in 2006, reflecting the influence of a Sacrifice story line and the increased importance of the norm of cost-efficiency. Convincing others about the truthfulness of the Opportunity story line would possibly be effective for making others willing to commit to obligations and actually implement them. However, the diminishing importance of the Ecological Justice story line may affect negatively how Sweden is viewed internationally. If the overarching aim is to get as many countries as possible to commit to and comply with quantitative commitments within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, then it might not only be of importance whether Sweden can “deliver” but possibly also how one delivers.
Mathias Zannakis. The blending of discourses in Sweden’s “urge to go ahead” in climate politics. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics 2013, 15, 217 -236.
AMA StyleMathias Zannakis. The blending of discourses in Sweden’s “urge to go ahead” in climate politics. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics. 2013; 15 (2):217-236.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMathias Zannakis. 2013. "The blending of discourses in Sweden’s “urge to go ahead” in climate politics." International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics 15, no. 2: 217-236.
Even though technological advances have occurred during recent decades today’s nutrient loading from Swedish on-site sewage systems (OSSs) is much higher than in the 1940s, despite a decreased rural population and the existence of potentially far better technologies than the existing inadequate installations. The objective of this paper is first, to explain this situation as the result of co-evolution of technology and institutions, which has resulted in a very stable conservation. Second, to properly understand how such stable configurations may change, the paper investigates how a power-distributional theory of incremental institutional change might complement the previous analysis and open up the thinking about how seemingly stable configurations may change endogenously. The analysis reveals how shifts in the distribution of power, i.e., public and private actors’ resources and tools to use in interaction with other actors, have influenced the direction of technological and institutional development. We conclude that the sequencing of events has been important; the series of choices made foremost between the 1950s and 1990s caused both institutional and technical lock-in effects that have been increasingly difficult to break out from. Despite parallel and later incremental developments, improvement in the environmental outcome is not yet seen on the large scale.
Are Wallin; Mathias Zannakis; Sverker Molander. On-Site Sewage Systems from Good to Bad to…? Swedish Experiences with Institutional Change and Technological Dependencies 1900 to 2010. Sustainability 2013, 5, 4706 -4727.
AMA StyleAre Wallin, Mathias Zannakis, Sverker Molander. On-Site Sewage Systems from Good to Bad to…? Swedish Experiences with Institutional Change and Technological Dependencies 1900 to 2010. Sustainability. 2013; 5 (11):4706-4727.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAre Wallin; Mathias Zannakis; Sverker Molander. 2013. "On-Site Sewage Systems from Good to Bad to…? Swedish Experiences with Institutional Change and Technological Dependencies 1900 to 2010." Sustainability 5, no. 11: 4706-4727.
This article reports results from a questionnaire administered to Swedish homeowners (N = 1481) investigating factors that influence them, as users and owners of on-site sewage systems (OSS), to environmentally improve their OSS. Social and psychological factors were based on previous research into pro-environmental and compliance behaviors and a previous interview study. The results suggest that the most important motives are to benefit, to act when outcomes are fair, and to avoid inconvenience. Less important motives are to act when outcomes are fair and to act of concern for the environment. Perceived efficacy in decreasing the environmental impacts of current OSS, when the OSS is changed, and perceived ability to change their OSS are also among the strongest predictors of readiness to change OSS. However, among homeowners who changed their OSS to do ones duty and achieve long-term safety were ranked highest. The results support the expectations of goal-framing theory that motives related to “gain” would be focal in situations of unfavorable cost–benefit ratios. Similarly, the importance of fair outcomes and efficacious rules is consistent with general findings in research on social dilemmas.
Are Wallin; Mathias Zannakis; Lars-Olof Johansson; Sverker Molander. Influence of interventions and internal motivation on Swedish homeowners’ change of on-site sewage systems. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2013, 76, 27 -40.
AMA StyleAre Wallin, Mathias Zannakis, Lars-Olof Johansson, Sverker Molander. Influence of interventions and internal motivation on Swedish homeowners’ change of on-site sewage systems. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2013; 76 ():27-40.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAre Wallin; Mathias Zannakis; Lars-Olof Johansson; Sverker Molander. 2013. "Influence of interventions and internal motivation on Swedish homeowners’ change of on-site sewage systems." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 76, no. : 27-40.