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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427202
Research Project: Integrated Agricultural Systems for a Resilient Circular Bioeconomy in the Central Plains

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: The role of spatially varying descriptive norm nudges on public valuation of ecosystem services associated with improved soil health

Author
item MAVROUTSIKOS, CHARALAMPOS - University Of Nebraska
item SCHOENGOLD, KARINA - University Of Nebraska
item YIANNAKA, AMALIA - University Of Nebraska
item BANERJEE, SIMANTI - University Of Nebraska
item GIANNAKAS, KONSTANTINOS - University Of Nebraska
item AWADA, TALA - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2025
Publication Date: 4/15/2025
Citation: Mavroutsikos, C., Schoengold, K., Yiannaka, A., Banerjee, S., Giannakas, K., Awada, T. 2025. The role of spatially varying descriptive norm nudges on public valuation of ecosystem services associated with improved soil health. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 04:1-27. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.356159.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.356159

Interpretive Summary: Improving soil quality in agricultural lands can lead to numerous positive outcomes in terms of increased production, profitability, and ecosystem benefits. Adoption of nature-based and technology-based agricultural practices can improve soil quality on agricultural land. Understanding what incentives would be required to adopt soil quality improvement for society is needed. A discrete choice experiment was implemented to understand the public's willingness to pay for implementation of these agricultural practices to improve soil quality. Respondents were willing to pay more for improvements if implemented across a larger geographic region(State)compared to smaller area(County).

Technical Abstract: This study examines public values for ecosystem services (ES) associated with soil health in agricultural lands. We use a choice experiment of Nebraska residents to investigate the effect of descriptive norm nudging on willingness-to-pay (WTP) for ES. Empirical results show an overall positive WTP for ES generating policies but significant differences across treatment groups. Results show a higher WTP for a social norm nudge that refers to a relatively large geographic area (State versus County). Results also show that total WTP for state households will pay for conservation practice incentives on less than 10% of cropland.