Why might people become less worried about the environment when others around them seem to be doing better economically? This talk explores environmental concern through the lens of social comparison, asking whether “keeping up with the Joneses” can also relate to how much people are concerned about climate change and environmental protection. Using two decades of German panel data, the study shows that relative income position may matter more than one's own income. The session connects behavioural economics and environmental attitudes in an accessible way, inviting participants to think about climate concern as a social, psychological and economic phenomenon shaped by relative concerns and collective responsibility.
Nur Banu Kartal is an early-career researcher in economics based at Turkish-German University. She recently completed her PhD and has conducted several research visits, including visits to the University of Hohenheim and ZEW Mannheim. Her work focuses on how relative concerns, time preferences, and cognitive and non-cognitive skills shape economic and social outcomes.
Target groups: Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty
