Working Paper
A Behavioral Approach to Water Conservation : Evidence from Costa Rica
collection.link.5 |
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/9
| |
collection.name.5 |
Policy Research Working Papers
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dc.contributor.author |
Datta, Saugato
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dc.contributor.author |
Miranda, Juan José
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dc.contributor.author |
Zoratto, Laura
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dc.contributor.author |
Calvo-Gonzalez, Oscar
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dc.contributor.author |
Darlingm, Matthew
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dc.contributor.author |
Lorenzana, Karina
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dc.date.accessioned |
2015-07-14T21:09:21Z
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dc.date.available |
2015-07-14T21:09:21Z
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dc.date.issued |
2015-06
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dc.date.lastModified |
2021-04-23T14:04:07Z
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dc.description.abstract |
This 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.identifier |
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/06/24577782/behavioral-approach-water-conservation-evidence-costa-rica
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dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22156
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dc.language |
English
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dc.language.iso |
en_US
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dc.publisher |
World Bank, Washington, DC
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dc.relation.ispartofseries |
Policy Research Working Paper;No. 7283
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dc.rights |
CC BY 3.0 IGO
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dc.rights.holder |
World Bank
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dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
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dc.subject |
WATERING
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dc.subject |
WATER SUPPLIES
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dc.subject |
USE OF WATER
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dc.subject |
PRICE OF WATER
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dc.subject |
HAND WASHING
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dc.subject |
PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND
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dc.subject |
WATER CRISIS
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dc.subject |
MONTHLY WATER BILL
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dc.subject |
WATER USAGE
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dc.subject |
WATER CONSUMERS
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dc.subject |
COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY
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dc.subject |
PROGRAMS
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dc.subject |
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT
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dc.subject |
WATER METERS
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dc.subject |
WATER SUPPLY
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dc.subject |
DOMESTIC WATER
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dc.subject |
FIXED CHARGES
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dc.subject |
URBAN WATER
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dc.subject |
WATER SHORTAGES
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dc.subject |
GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
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dc.subject |
HOUSEHOLD WATER
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dc.subject |
WASHING
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dc.subject |
HIGH WATER CONSUMPTION
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dc.subject |
WATER BOARD
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dc.subject |
TOWNS
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dc.subject |
BASIC SANITATION
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dc.subject |
WATER CONSUMPTION
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dc.subject |
WATER RESOURCES
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dc.subject |
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
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dc.subject |
MUNICIPALITIES
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dc.subject |
WATER SYSTEM
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dc.subject |
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
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dc.subject |
WATER MANAGEMENT
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dc.subject |
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
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dc.subject |
AVERAGE WATER CONSUMPTION
| |
dc.subject |
WATER BILL
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dc.subject |
WATER PRICING
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dc.subject |
HIGH WATER
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dc.subject |
POPULATION GROWTH
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dc.subject |
WATER USE
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dc.subject |
WATER
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dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS
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dc.subject |
SCIENCES
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dc.subject |
WATER GOVERNANCE
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dc.subject |
WATER DEVELOPMENT
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dc.subject |
WATER USE PATTERNS
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dc.subject |
SERVICE PROVISION
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dc.subject |
POTABLE WATER
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dc.subject |
WATER SCARCITY
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dc.subject |
RESEARCH
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dc.subject |
PRICE ELASTICITY
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dc.subject |
PUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION
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dc.subject |
BILLING
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dc.subject |
SMALL TOWN
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dc.subject |
URBAN DWELLERS
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dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY
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dc.subject |
POTABLE WATER SYSTEM
| |
dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
| |
dc.subject |
CHARGES – FOR WATER
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dc.subject |
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
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dc.subject |
WASTEWATER
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dc.subject |
FRESHWATER RESOURCES
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dc.subject |
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
| |
dc.subject |
FRESH WATER
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dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENTS
| |
dc.subject |
CLIMATE CHANGE
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dc.subject |
DEMAND FOR WATER
| |
dc.subject |
UTILITIES
| |
dc.subject |
WATER DEMAND
| |
dc.subject |
LARGE CITIES
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dc.subject |
SYSTEMS
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dc.subject |
WATER ASSESSMENT
| |
dc.subject |
COMMUNITY WATER
| |
dc.subject |
URBAN AREAS
| |
dc.subject |
WATER PRODUCTION
| |
dc.subject |
CONSUMERS
| |
dc.subject |
SANITATION SECTOR
| |
dc.subject |
CUBIC METERS
| |
dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT
| |
dc.subject |
POWER UTILITY
| |
dc.subject |
WATER DEFICIT
| |
dc.subject |
CUBIC METERS OF WATER
| |
dc.subject |
BROAD RANGE
| |
dc.subject |
TOWN
| |
dc.subject |
WATER UTILITIES
| |
dc.subject |
WATER SOURCES
| |
dc.subject |
HOUSEHOLD WATER USE
| |
dc.subject |
SANITATION SERVICES
| |
dc.subject |
WATER RATIONING
| |
dc.subject |
DRINKING WATER
| |
dc.subject |
STATISTICS
| |
dc.subject |
GROUNDWATER
| |
dc.subject |
HOUSEHOLDS
| |
dc.subject |
METERS
| |
dc.subject |
WATER SAVINGS
| |
dc.subject |
CONSERVATION
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dc.subject |
WATER SITUATION
| |
dc.subject |
HOUSEHOLD WATER CONSUMPTION
| |
dc.subject |
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
| |
dc.subject |
ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER
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dc.subject |
WATER SERVICE
| |
dc.subject |
DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION
| |
dc.subject |
DEMAND MANAGEMENT
| |
dc.subject |
WATER DEPARTMENTS
| |
dc.subject |
WATER BILLS
| |
dc.subject |
WATER DEPARTMENT
| |
dc.subject |
WATER RATES
| |
dc.subject |
WATER CONSERVATION
| |
dc.subject |
MUNICIPAL WATER
| |
dc.title |
A Behavioral Approach to Water Conservation
| en |
dc.title.subtitle |
Evidence from Costa Rica
| en |
dc.type |
Working Paper
| en |
okr.date.disclosure |
2015-06-02
| |
okr.doctype |
Publications & Research
| |
okr.doctype |
Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
| |
okr.docurl |
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/06/24577782/behavioral-approach-water-conservation-evidence-costa-rica
| |
okr.globalpractice |
Water
| |
okr.googlescholar.linkpresent |
yes
| |
okr.identifier.doi |
10.1596/1813-9450-7283
| |
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum |
090224b082ef47f9_2_0
| |
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum |
24577782
| |
okr.identifier.report |
WPS7283
| |
okr.language.supported |
en
| |
okr.pdfurl |
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2015/06/04/090224b082ef47f9/2_0/Rendered/PDF/A0behavioral0a0ence0from0Costa0Rica.pdf
| en |
okr.region.country |
Costa Rica
| |
okr.topic |
Water Supply and Sanitation :: Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions
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okr.topic |
Water Supply and Sanitation :: Town Water Supply and Sanitation
| |
okr.topic |
Water Resources :: Water Use
| |
okr.topic |
Water Resources :: Water Conservation
| |
okr.topic |
Water Resources :: Water and Industry
| |
okr.unit |
Governance Global Practice Group and the Central America Countries Unit
|
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