Structuring Communication Effectively for Environmental Cooperation

35 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2020

See all articles by Ann-Kathrin Koessler

Ann-Kathrin Koessler

Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover; Institute for Environmental Systems Research & Department of Economics, University of Osnabrueck

Juan Felipe Ortiz-Riomalo

School of Business Administration and Economics, IUSF Research Centre - Osnabrueck University

Mathias Janke

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Stefanie Engel

School of Economics and Business Administration

Date Written: February 7, 2020

Abstract

Many environmental problems represent social dilemma situations where individually rational behaviour leads to collectively suboptimal outcomes. Communication has been found to alleviate the dilemma and stimulate cooperation in these situations. Yet, the knowledge of what type of information needs to be shared to ensure the beneficial effect is still incomplete. Previous research relies on ex post methods, i.e. after conducting an experiment researchers analyse what information was shared during the communication phase. By nature, this ex post categorization is endogenous. In this study, we aim to identify the elements of effective communication ex ante and evaluate their impact in a more controlled way. Based on the findings of previous studies, we identify four cooperation-enhancing elements of communication: (i) problem awareness, (ii) identification of strategies, (iii) agreement, and (iv) ratification. In a laboratory experiment with 560 participants, we implement interventions representing these components and contrast the resulting levels of cooperation with the outcomes under free (unstructured) or no communication. We find that the intervention facilitating agreement on a common strategy (combination of (ii) and (iii)) is particularly powerful in boosting cooperation. And if this is combined with interventions promoting problem awareness and ratification, similar cooperation levels as in settings with free-form communication can be reached. Our results are relevant not only from an analytical perspective, but also provide insights for effectively structuring communication in participatory processes aimed at improving environmental outcomes.

Keywords: social dilemma, communication, cooperation, environmental governance, resource management, participatory process, deliberation

JEL Classification: C71, C92, H41, Q48, Q59

Suggested Citation

Koessler, Ann-Kathrin and Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe and Janke, Mathias and Engel, Stefanie, Structuring Communication Effectively for Environmental Cooperation (February 7, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3533910 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3533910

Ann-Kathrin Koessler (Contact Author)

Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz University Hannover ( email )

Herrenhäuser Str. 2
Hannover, 30149
Germany

Institute for Environmental Systems Research & Department of Economics, University of Osnabrueck ( email )

Barbarastr. 12
Osnabruck, 49076
Germany

Juan Felipe Ortiz-Riomalo

School of Business Administration and Economics, IUSF Research Centre - Osnabrueck University ( email )

Barbarastraße 12, 66/E22
Osnabrück, 49076
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.usf.uni-osnabrueck.de/institut/personen/ortiz_riomalo.html

Mathias Janke

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Stefanie Engel

School of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

Barbarastr. 12
Osnabrueck, 49076
Germany

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