การสะกิดเพื่อส่งเสริมใช้ถุงพลาสติกชีวภาพ ด้วยเศรษฐศาสตร์เชิงพฤติกรรมกับครัวเรือน ในกรุงเทพมหานคร

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how to encourage households to use bioplastic bags. Nudge theory is applied in the form of (1) nudge using the default option to promote the use of bioplastic bags and (2) nudge by providing positive information about the benefits of bioplastic bags or by providing damaging information about the adverse environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags. This paper also uses Randomized Control Trials (RCT) in Experimental Economics with 180 households in Bangkok. The study’s key findings lead to three conclusions: (1) Nudge using the default option can increase the opportunity of a sample to choose bioplastic bags by 19.34%. (2) Nudge with positive or negative information can increase the opportunity of the sample to choose bioplastic bags by 39.97% and 30.41%, respectively. (3) The consistently high price of bioplastic bags is another reason consumers are not interested in switching to bioplastic bags. The following policy recommendations are thus proposed: (1) In the case of department stores implementing a policy of refraining from handing out single-use plastic bags, they may instead opt to offer bioplastic bags as a default option for consumers. (2) Department stores can provide pictures or informational materials presenting the benefits of bioplastic bags or the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags to consumers directly to encourage them to choose bioplastic bags. (3) A policy providing subsidies to reduce the cost of bioplastic bags can help motivate consumers to use bioplastic bags.