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IW-Policy Paper No. 10 22. November 2023 Jennifer Potthoff Green Nudging – a key against littering?

The demand for cleanliness in cities is increasing: "Littering" - the illegal littering of public spaces - does not only cause costs for the environment and society, but also has significant financial consequences through increased cleaning costs.

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Green Nudging – a key against littering?
IW-Policy Paper No. 10 22. November 2023 Jennifer Potthoff

Green Nudging – a key against littering?

Jennifer Potthoff German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

The demand for cleanliness in cities is increasing: "Littering" - the illegal littering of public spaces - does not only cause costs for the environment and society, but also has significant financial consequences through increased cleaning costs.

Much of the littering consists of "to-go" packaging, plastic bottles, and cigarette butts. Currently, the problem is predominantly addressed with laws, fines, and education campaigns. Politicians and the media are also putting the appearance of cities on the agenda, but classic instruments such as controls by municipal law enforcement officers and harsh sanctions against "litterers" are reaching their limits in solving the problem. In addition to classic environmental policy instruments, the tools of behavioral economics can make a complementary contribution in solving the problem: by influencing people's daily habits, green nudges can encourage people to reduce littering, thereby improving urban cleanliness.

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Green Nudging – a key against littering?
IW-Policy Paper No. 10 22. November 2023 Jennifer Potthoff

Green Nudging – a key against littering?

Jennifer Potthoff German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison
IW-Trends No. 3 29. September 2026 Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff / Augustin Renz

The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison

Honesty reduces transaction costs and is therefore a prerequisite for effective economic cooperation.

Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff / Augustin Renz IW

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IW-Trends No. 4 10. January 2026 Jennifer Potthoff / Rebecca Gabel

Life Satisfaction in Germany: Trends, Influencing Factors and Political Relevance

Despite their country’s multiple crises, Germans' subjective well-being remains overall buoyant and is currently reaching historic highs similar to those of the 2010s.

Jennifer Potthoff / Rebecca Gabel IW

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