Publication:
A Behavioral Approach to Water Conservation: Evidence from Costa Rica

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dc.contributor.authorDatta, Saugato
dc.contributor.authorMiranda, Juan José
dc.contributor.authorZoratto, Laura
dc.contributor.authorCalvo-Gonzalez, Oscar
dc.contributor.authorDarlingm, Matthew
dc.contributor.authorLorenzana, Karina
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-14T21:09:21Z
dc.date.available2015-07-14T21:09:21Z
dc.date.issued2015-06
dc.description.abstractThis paper presents the design a set of three simple and replicable behavioral interventions, which use stickers that can be added to water bills at low cost, and test their impact on water consumption in Belen, Costa Rica, using a randomized control trial. Two of the three interventions were found to decrease water consumption significantly in the months following the intervention. A descriptive social norm intervention using neighborhood comparisons reduces consumption by between 3.7 and 5.6 percent relative to a control group, while a plan-making intervention reduces consumption by between 3.4 and 5.5 percent. While the two interventions have similar results, they are effective on different subpopulations, with the plan-making intervention being most effective for low-consumption households, while the neighborhood comparison intervention is most effective for high-consumption households. The results demonstrate that behavioral interventions, which have hitherto utilized sophisticated software to deliver customized messages, can be effectively implemented by local governments in developing countries, where technology and resource constraints render the sorts of customized messaging that has typically been used to deliver them in developed countries unfeasible. The results further confirm that raising awareness about how much water an individual consumes, and comparing this consumption level with peers, can go a long way in helping change individuals’ behavior regarding the use of a finite resource such as water.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/06/24577782/behavioral-approach-water-conservation-evidence-costa-rica
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-7283
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/22156
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Paper;No. 7283
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectWATERING
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLIES
dc.subjectUSE OF WATER
dc.subjectPRICE OF WATER
dc.subjectHAND WASHING
dc.subjectPRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
dc.subjectWATER CRISIS
dc.subjectMONTHLY WATER BILL
dc.subjectWATER USAGE
dc.subjectWATER CONSUMERS
dc.subjectCOMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY
dc.subjectPROGRAMS
dc.subjectURBAN WATER MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectWATER METERS
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLY
dc.subjectDOMESTIC WATER
dc.subjectFIXED CHARGES
dc.subjectURBAN WATER
dc.subjectWATER SHORTAGES
dc.subjectGLOBAL WATER CRISIS
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD WATER
dc.subjectWASHING
dc.subjectHIGH WATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectWATER BOARD
dc.subjectTOWNS
dc.subjectBASIC SANITATION
dc.subjectWATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectWATER RESOURCES
dc.subjectELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectMUNICIPALITIES
dc.subjectWATER SYSTEM
dc.subjectWASTEWATER TREATMENT
dc.subjectWATER MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectCLIMATIC CONDITIONS
dc.subjectAVERAGE WATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectWATER BILL
dc.subjectWATER PRICING
dc.subjectHIGH WATER
dc.subjectPOPULATION GROWTH
dc.subjectWATER USE
dc.subjectWATER
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectSCIENCES
dc.subjectWATER GOVERNANCE
dc.subjectWATER DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectWATER USE PATTERNS
dc.subjectSERVICE PROVISION
dc.subjectPOTABLE WATER
dc.subjectWATER SCARCITY
dc.subjectRESEARCH
dc.subjectPRICE ELASTICITY
dc.subjectPUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION
dc.subjectBILLING
dc.subjectSMALL TOWN
dc.subjectURBAN DWELLERS
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY
dc.subjectPOTABLE WATER SYSTEM
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL UTILITIES
dc.subjectCHARGES – FOR WATER
dc.subjectWATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
dc.subjectWASTEWATER
dc.subjectFRESHWATER RESOURCES
dc.subjectLOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectFRESH WATER
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENTS
dc.subjectCLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subjectDEMAND FOR WATER
dc.subjectUTILITIES
dc.subjectWATER DEMAND
dc.subjectLARGE CITIES
dc.subjectSYSTEMS
dc.subjectWATER ASSESSMENT
dc.subjectCOMMUNITY WATER
dc.subjectURBAN AREAS
dc.subjectWATER PRODUCTION
dc.subjectCONSUMERS
dc.subjectSANITATION SECTOR
dc.subjectCUBIC METERS
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT
dc.subjectPOWER UTILITY
dc.subjectWATER DEFICIT
dc.subjectCUBIC METERS OF WATER
dc.subjectBROAD RANGE
dc.subjectTOWN
dc.subjectWATER UTILITIES
dc.subjectWATER SOURCES
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD WATER USE
dc.subjectSANITATION SERVICES
dc.subjectWATER RATIONING
dc.subjectDRINKING WATER
dc.subjectSTATISTICS
dc.subjectGROUNDWATER
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLDS
dc.subjectMETERS
dc.subjectWATER SAVINGS
dc.subjectCONSERVATION
dc.subjectWATER SITUATION
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD WATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectHOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectACCESS TO DRINKING WATER
dc.subjectWATER SERVICE
dc.subjectDOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION
dc.subjectDEMAND MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectWATER DEPARTMENTS
dc.subjectWATER BILLS
dc.subjectWATER DEPARTMENT
dc.subjectWATER RATES
dc.subjectWATER CONSERVATION
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL WATER
dc.titleA Behavioral Approach to Water Conservationen
dc.title.subtitleEvidence from Costa Ricaen
dc.typeWorking Paperen
dc.typeDocument de travailfr
dc.typeDocumento de trabajoes
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titleA Behavioral Approach to Water Conservation: Evidence from Costa Rica
okr.date.disclosure2015-06-02
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T10:15:53.551817Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Policy Research Working Paper
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/06/24577782/behavioral-approach-water-conservation-evidence-costa-rica
okr.globalpracticeWater
okr.guid809801468001190306
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-7283
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum090224b082ef47f9_2_0
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum24577782
okr.identifier.reportWPS7283
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2015/06/04/090224b082ef47f9/2_0/Rendered/PDF/A0behavioral0a0ence0from0Costa0Rica.pdfen
okr.region.countryCosta Rica
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions
okr.topicWater Supply and Sanitation::Town Water Supply and Sanitation
okr.topicWater Resources::Water Use
okr.topicWater Resources::Water Conservation
okr.topicWater Resources::Water and Industry
okr.unitGovernance Global Practice Group and the Central America Countries Unit
relation.isAuthorOfPublication3ede91d4-452b-5fbb-b954-1394785b79ce
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery3ede91d4-452b-5fbb-b954-1394785b79ce
relation.isSeriesOfPublication26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
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