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Recycling as a Reflection of Balanced Self-Interest

A Test of the Metaeconomics Approach

National Wind Coordinating Committee, RESOLVE, Washington, D.C.

Gary D. Lynne

Department of Agricultural Economics and the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Bruce Johnson

Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Traditional economic policy focuses on reducing the costs and effort of recycling and on building markets for products with recycle content. At the other end of the policy spectrum, ordinances mandating recycling are the policy approach. This article takes an alternative "metaeconomics" approach and suggests a "third way." It is premised on the possibility that individuals who recycle and those who do not are jointly motivated by financial-based recycling incentives in the self-interest and by the sense of wanting to "do the right thing" in the pursuit of an other-interest. The latter involves true self-sacrifice represented in altruism. The statistical analysis suggests that the probability of an individual being a recycler is determined by the extent to which recycling is important, but in conjunction with an orientation away from favoring just the self-interest. In addition, individuals who recycle are more willing to support a recycling ordinance.

Key Words: self-interest • community interest • other-interest • metaeconomics • recycling policy • empathy-altruism • egoism-hedonism • third-way policy

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