New research reveals that environmental policies continue influencing behavior long after being repealed, sometimes with unexpected consequences.
Why it matters: Understanding policy aftereffects is crucial for crafting effective environmental regulations. This study shows how well-intentioned rules can create unintended behavioral changes that persist.
- Before the bans, consumers regularly reused free grocery bags as trash bin liners.
Key finding: When stores stopped providing free plastic bags, consumers started buying more plastic trash bags – a habit that continued even after the bans were lifted.
“We were hoping for positive spillover effects, like customers will be more environmentally conscious… But that’s not what happened in the data. People wound up buying more plastic.”
Hai Che, associate professor at UCR’s School of Business
The process:
- Researchers analyzed barcode scanner data in Austin and Dallas
- Conducted break-even analysis to assess net environmental impact
- Tracked consumer behavior before, during, and after bag policies
Keep in mind: The study couldn’t measure potential positive changes like increased use of reusable bags, which might offset some negative effects.
Real-world impact: Even small changes in grocery bag use could offset increased trash bag purchases – consumers need to use just one less bag every 5-7 shopping trips to break even environmentally.
- These findings suggest environmental policies need careful design to avoid unintended consequences.
TL;DR
- Plastic bag bans created lasting changes in consumer behavior, even after being repealed.
- Consumers responded by buying more plastic trash bags, partially offsetting environmental benefits.
- Similar spillover effects appear in other environmental policies, from sugary drink taxes to energy efficiency programs.
Dive Deeper
Read the Paper: Are We Worse off after Policy Repeals? Evidence from Two Green Policies
News Release: Plastic bag bans have lingering impacts, even after repeals