A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Nudge the rich! The case for targeting the top 10% in behavioural climate policy




AuthorsKoi, Polaris; Sivonen, Jukka; Härmä, Vuokko; Karvonen, Sakari; Siipi, Helena

PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication year2025

Journal:Humanities & social sciences communications

Journal name in sourceHUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS

Article number1559

Volume12

ISSN2662-9992

eISSN2662-9992

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05886-6

Web address https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05886-6

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/504538512


Abstract
In interventions for the common good, such as in the climate context, the choice of a target group does not directly determine the beneficiaries of the intervention. Instead, efficacy, acceptability, and fairness emerge as core considerations in targeting interventions. This paper examines targeting the top 10% by income and assets in climate interventions in light of the above considerations. Addressing the climate crisis requires significant changes in the consumption patterns of those who consume most. We argue that the behavioural public policy community should do more to specifically address the consumption patterns of the rich.

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Funding information in the publication
The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland (grant number 335186).


Last updated on 2025-10-10 at 12:33