Bridging the gap: Advancing behavioral economics and climate change research in developing countries

Abstract

Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our time and requires exceptional efforts to combat it. Along with traditional economic methods, behavioral economics, which integrates psychological insights into financial decision-making, offers powerful tools to encourage climate-friendly behaviors. However, there has been relatively less research on the nexus of behavioral economics and climate change, and much of it is concentrated in developed countries. This perspective highlights the disparity in research output between developed and developing nations, based on a bibliometric analysis of 31 Scopus-indexed publications from 2008 to 2022. Our study reveals a strong bias toward research produced in the developed countries (or Global North), particularly in the United States and Europe, while developing countries (Global South) remain underrepresented. Consequently, we call for a more inclusive research agenda that focuses on the unique socio-economic realities of developing countries and the need for culturally or contextually tailored behavioral interventions. By promoting collaborative research efforts and increasing funding for the Global South, we aim to bridge this gap and develop scalable, effective solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation.