Abstract
Behavioural science has typically investigated willingness to comply with and support for new and more ambitious environmental regulation. Recent political decisions in various regions of the world, however, have deregulated existing environmental protections or delayed the implementation of planned policies. This study explores the broader attitudinal and behavioural consequences of such regulatory rollback.
Standard economic models suggest an increase in the deregulated behaviour due to changes in incentive structures. Still, intrinsic motivation and prevailing social norms to protect the environment may maintaincompliance with pro-environmental behaviours despite regulatory changes, but it is unclear how much, for how long, and for whom this may be the case. Moreover, regulatory rollback may undermine broader policy priorities aimed at encouraging pro-environmental norms and behaviours, and may reduce trust in government to address collective environmental problems.
To explore these themes, we developed and implemented an approach for AI-assisted chatbot interviews across four European countries (Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark; N = 4,000) which differ in government political orientation, environmental values, and attributions of responsibility for climate change mitigation to governments. Using quota-representative samples and AI-augmented content analysis, we investigate how citizens perceive and respond to two deregulated environmental policies, focusing on behavioural intentions, voluntary compliance, perceived social norms, and trust in government.
We will discuss the potential for AI in conducting and analysing large amounts of interview data and we reflect on the influence of national-level factors influencing responses to environmental deregulation.