Does behavioral spillover follow policy changes? A longitudinal perspective on changing plastic regulation – MSI

Working Paper

Does behavioral spillover follow policy changes? A longitudinal perspective on changing plastic regulation

Mengfei Ye and Jenny van Doorn

Apr 10, 2025

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Analyzes the impact of changes over two decades in English plastic bag regulations on consumer purchase of water products in plastic bottles.

Topics

Consumer Behavior & Insights Privacy & Regulation

research recap

Bags to Bottles: Positive and Negative Spillover from Plastics Regulations

Plastic bag regulations can have positive spillover effects such as reduced purchase of plastic bottled water. Increasing the stringency of regulations, however, may create at least a temporary backlash from consumers. Policymakers must consider—and manufacturers and retailers anticipate—how sequential changes in regulations will affect consumer preferences and behavior.

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