How resilient is public support for carbon pricing? Longitudinal evidence from Germany
The success of climate policies depends crucially on the dynamics of public support. Using unique longitudinal data from three surveys conducted between 2019 and 2022, we study the variations of public support for carbon pricing and revenue use in Germany. Using panel methods, we show that support is very persistent over time. However, people who incur high energy cost decrease their support. Regarding revenue use, we find that social cushioning has become more popular over time, while support for green spending has decreased. Our findings suggest that it is crucial to adapt climate policies in response to increased energy costs.
Sommer, S., T. Konc and S. Drews (2026), How resilient is public support for carbon pricing? Longitudinal evidence from Germany. Ecological Economics, 244, 108970