Are Social Comparison Reports Effective in Transition Economies? Evidence from a Field Experiment

This study investigates the effectiveness of “nudges” in the form of peer comparison reports on household energy consumption. We collected the data from households for a total of 8 months in Yerevan, Armenia. We document the overall relationship between receiving monthly peer comparison reports and reduced energy consumption. Moreover, we also find strong and statistically significant heterogeneous treatment effects for female respondents, particularly those with higher education. The findings suggest that providing households with peer comparison reports can be an effective nudge to encourage them to reduce their energy consumption, and policymakers may need to tailor their energy conservation programs to different demographic groups. This study highlights the potential of peer comparison programs as a cost-effective, and efficient approach to reducing household energy consumption and carbon emissions in the context of developing and transition countries.