Voluntary provision of environmental goods in developing countries: Analyses using a household survey

• Project/Area Number: 26870109
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Design and evaluation of sustainable and environmental conscious system; Economic policy
• Research Institution: National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Principal Investigator: Yokoo Hidefumi 国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 資源循環・廃棄物研究センター, 研究員 (80583327)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 環境公共財 / フィールド調査 / リサイクル / 廃棄物 / ベトナム / 社会的選好 / ごみ分別 / 家計調査 / 利他性 / 廃棄物管理 / 回帰分析 / 不平等回避 / 自発的供給

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examines factors that affect the private provision of an environmental public good in a developing country. Household recycling behavior in an urban area of Vietnam is examined. Based on primary survey data collected from 755 Hanoi households, we find that the majority of sample households recycle all the recyclable materials they consume even though such recycling is not obligatory. Half the recycling households sell their recyclables to informal junk buyers. The results of the regression analyses show that recycling behavior is driven by altruism. These findings suggest that social preferences are important determinants of the private provision of public goods through the informal sector in a developing country.

Research Products

• [Presentation] Altruism behind recycling: A substitute for an environmental policy? (2016)
  • Author(s): Yokoo H., Kawai K., Higuchi Y.
  • Organizer: The 6th Congress of the East Asian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics
  • Place of Presentation: 九州産業大学（福岡県）
  • Year and Date: 2016-08-09
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Altruism behind recycling: A substitute for an environmental policy? (2016)
  • Author(s): 横尾英史, 河井紘輔, 樋口裕城
  • Organizer: 日本経済学会 2016年度春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋大学（愛知県）
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-18
• [Presentation] Altruism behind recycling: A substitute for an environmental policy? (2015)
  • Author(s): Yokoo H., Kawai K., Higuchi Y.
  • Organizer: Hayami Conference 2015
  • Place of Presentation: 政策研究大学院大学（東京都・港区）
  • Year and Date: 2015-12-12
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Altruism behind recycling: A substitute for an environmental policy? (2015)
  • Author(s): Yokoo H., Kawai K., Higuchi Y.
  • Organizer: 環境経済･政策学会2015年大会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都大学（京都府・京都市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-24