Burning in moral, drowning in rationality? - Ethical considerations in forming environmental policy

Abstract

We have experienced an increasing use of both economic and political instruments in attempts to induce households to contribute to sustainable development. However, there is a lack of understanding of how these tools interplay with the motives held by households and the daily constraints they face. The purpose of this paper is to give some anecdotal evidence on how moral motives may affect different policies in force, and to give some insights on how to proceed in designing policy instruments compatible with sustainable household behaviour. I conclude that some households have learned to appreciate the reward of economic incentives, but that we also need to acknowledge that environmental morale may affect the support of such economic instruments.