The effect of income satisfaction on the relationship between income class and pro-environment behavior

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the linkage from income class to pro-environmental behaviour among people with different income levels. By setting a hierarchical regression model and using data from the World Value Survey (WVS), this study finds that higher income reinforces pro-environmental behaviour. In addition, income satisfaction significantly strengthen the relationship between income class and pro-environmental behaviour, such that the link between them gets stronger when the individuals are satisfied with their income. The findings show that income level and income satisfaction go hand-in-hand in bringing about pro-environmental engagement.

KEYWORDS:

• Income class
• income satisfaction
• environmental policy
• income inequality

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• Q56
• A14

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [71774114].