American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Fighting Climate Change: International Attitudes toward Climate Policies
American Economic Review
vol. 115,
no. 4, April 2025
(pp. 1258–1300)
Abstract
This paper explores global perceptions and understanding of climate change and policies, examining factors that influence support for climate action and the impact of different types of information. We conduct large-scale surveys with 40,000 respondents from 20 countries, providing new international data on attitudes toward climate change and respondents' socioeconomic backgrounds and lifestyles. We identify three key perceptions affecting policy support: perceived effectiveness of policies in reducing emissions, their impact on low-income households, and their effect on respondents' households (self-interest). Educational videos clarifying policy mechanisms increase support for climate policies; those merely highlighting climate change's impacts do not.Citation
Dechezleprêtre, Antoine, Adrien Fabre, Tobias Kruse, Bluebery Planterose, Ana Sanchez Chico, and Stefanie Stantcheva. 2025. "Fighting Climate Change: International Attitudes toward Climate Policies." American Economic Review 115 (4): 1258–1300. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20230501Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- C83 Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
- D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
- Q54 Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming
- Q58 Environmental Economics: Government Policy