Can Reward incentivize Climate Change Mitigations?: An Evidence from Japanese Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Policy

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23207
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0107:Economics, business administration, and related fields
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: Yajima Naonari 早稲田大学, 政治経済学術院, 研究助手 (10844532)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 表彰 / 温室効果ガス削減 / 計量分析 / 金銭的報酬 / 非金銭的報酬 / 気候変動対策

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study empirically investigates whether a monetary/non-monetary reward can be an incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We focus on a policy instrument at the prefectural level that aims to provide a non-monetary reward for good practices in terms of climate change mitigations by facilities. We explore the impact of this policy instrument on CO2 emissions reduction using prefecture-industry level panel data. As a result of the analysis, we find that providing a non-monetary reward can promote CO2 emissions reduction in the manufacturing sector. The results also suggest that financial rewards (e.g., low-interest loans) or the combination of an energy audit program may not necessarily reduce CO2 emissions. These results implies that it may be more cost effective to make awards for greenhouse gas reduction without financial rewards.

Free Research Field

環境経済学、応用ミクロ計量経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の分析は、温室効果ガス削減の促進において、都道府県の表彰制度が有効であったことを示唆した。まだ表彰制度を未実施の都道府県が実施することで、低コストでさらに気候変動対策が進むことが期待される。また、分析に課題はありつつも、非金銭的報酬と金銭的報酬を区別し、包括的なパネルデータを用いてその効果を検証した研究は少なく、本研究の意義は大きいと考えられる。