This title appears in the Scientific Report :
2021
Please use the identifier:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101840 in citations.
Please use the identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26779 in citations.
Why the trend towards gas-guzzlers? A closer look at the complex effects of social norms on German car buyers
Why the trend towards gas-guzzlers? A closer look at the complex effects of social norms on German car buyers
Abstract: The transport sector is one of the major drivers of global climate change, with a large share related to the personal use of cars. Paradoxically, as efforts are undertaken to reduce this share, a trend to buy large, heavy cars with comparatively high fuel consumption is occurring nearly wo...
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Personal Name(s): | Voegele, Stefan (Corresponding author) |
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Broska, Lisa Hanna / Otte, Sebastian / Rübbelke, Dirk | |
Contributing Institute: |
Systemforschung und Technologische Entwicklung; IEK-STE |
Published in: | Energy research & social science, 72 (2021) S. 101840 - |
Imprint: |
Amsterdam [u.a.]
Elsevier
2021
|
DOI: |
10.1016/j.erss.2020.101840 |
Document Type: |
Journal Article |
Research Program: |
Energiesystemtransformation |
Link: |
Published on 2020-12-17. Available in OpenAccess from 2022-12-17. |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Please use the identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26779 in citations.
Abstract: The transport sector is one of the major drivers of global climate change, with a large share related to the personal use of cars. Paradoxically, as efforts are undertaken to reduce this share, a trend to buy large, heavy cars with comparatively high fuel consumption is occurring nearly worldwide. In this article, we analyze the possible influence of social norms in car-buying decisions and in particular in the trend towards sport utility vehicles (SUVs). After giving a short introduction into the theoretical foundations underlying this research, we develop a model applying a multi-criteria decision analysis approach. By using data from surveys conducted by VuMA Touchpoints and ARAL, on German car buyers, preferences and characteristics of the different social groups in German society, as well as the ADAC on characteristics of different car types, we quantify the influence of social norms on car-buying decisions. Our results indicate that social norms play a significant role in driving the demand for heavyweight passenger cars across most social groups, while the desire for social esteem leads some groups in particular to purchase SUVs and off-road vehicles. By taking society’s heterogeneity into account, we show that social norms are group-specific and not universal in society, though car choice is always to a certain extent influenced by social norms and ranges from between 24% and 42% in our model calculations. The novel approach taken in this research can be applied beyond the mobility sector to other environmentally significant consumer behaviors. |