TITLE: Partisanship, Priming and Recycling Participation

AUTHORS: Marie Briguglioa, Liam Delaneyb, Alex M. Woodc

a. Behavioural Science Centre, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom and Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics Management and Accountancy, University of Malta ().

b. Behavioural Science Centre, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom ()

c. Behavioural Science Centre, Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom ()

Corresponding Lead Author: Marie Briguglio + 356 7909 9909, Address: Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics Management and Accountancy, University of Malta, Tal-Qroqq, Msida MSD06, Malta.

Acknowledgements: The survey was funded through an Early Career Engagement Grant and a University of Malta Research Grant awarded by SIRE to Marie Briguglio. Neither funder had any involvement in the study design, nor in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Partisanship, Priming and Recycling Participation

Marie Briguglio, Liam Delaney, Alex M.Wood

Abstract

This study tests whether political attachment influences voluntary participation in a government-promoted recycling scheme, positing that households close to the party in government derive satisfaction from contributing to causes promoted by “their” party, while those close to the opposition may refrain in defiance. Data is drawn from a nationally-representative survey in Malta (n = 1,037), including a randomized controlled experiment testing the effect of a political prime on intent. We find that during the scheme’s introduction and promotion, uptake was significantly lower among respondents close to the party (then) in opposition (Labour Party). In the priming experiment, intent to participate was significantly lower among respondents close to the party in opposition (Nationalist Party), if they received a political cue. Controlling for political and environmental ideology inter alia, attachment to the party in opposition has a significant negative influence on participation when the scheme is associated with the party in government.

Highlights and Keywords

· Nationally-representative survey with randomized controlled priming experiment.

· Attachment to the party in opposition suppresses voluntary contribution.

· Partisan attachment distinct from ideology in determining participation.

Partisanship; Household; Public Goods; Prime; Voluntary Recycling; Promotion; Attachment; Prime; Experiment; Waste