Professor Dr. Michael Bechtel and Dr. Felix Kölle, members of ECONtribute at the University of Cologne, explain in the current Cologne University Magazine what makes people cooperate. Felix Kölle conducts research on cooperation in the field of behavioral economics at the Institute of Economics. Michael Bechtel’s research at the Department of Political Science and European Affairs investigates the circumstances under which people support costly climate protection measures.
Both scholars observe that people are willing to cooperate especially under fair conditions. People are more willing to share the costs of climate protection measures if other countries also invest and can otherwise be sanctioned, says Michael Bechtel. Most people are “conditional cooperators,” explains Felix Kölle. They are generally willing to cooperate if others do the same.
Financial incentives and sanctions could strengthen cooperation on many levels, say Bechtel and Kölle. Read more in the article in the Cologne University Magazine.