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Ozone (O 3) pollution poses health risks and premature mortality, and gas stations are one of the largest sources of urban volatile organic compounds (VOCs, the main precursor to O 3). This paper investigates whether the government's call for night refueling, which can be regarded as a green nudge, can guide changes in consumer behavior and consequently improve environmental quality. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) estimation and weekly monitoring site air quality panel data, we analyze the effect of the Night Refueling Preferential Policy on O 3 concentrations. We find that the policy can reduce O 3 concentrations by 10% by encouraging consumers to refuel at night. The reduction in O 3 has brought great benefits to human health, leading to a 4–5‰ reduction in non-accidental mortality and a 6–8‰ reduction in cardiovascular mortality in Jiangsu province. The economic benefits of this policy would be approximately 62–189 billion Chinese Yuan (CNY) if it were implemented nationwide. The findings of this study suggest that the government can influence consumer behavior to promote environmental quality. [Display omitted] • The government's call for night refueling can reduce O3 concentration by 9% by drawing consumers to refuel at night. • The Night Refueling Preferential Policy can reduce non-accidental and cardiovascular death rates by 3–4‰ and 5–7‰. • The Night Refueling Preferential Policy can bring 57–174 billion CNY in economic benefits if it is implemented nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neural-tube defects (NTDs) are considered to be the most common congenital malformations. As Shanxi Province, a poor region in the North of China, has one of the highest reported prevalence rates of NTDs in the world, folate fortification of rice is an excellent alternative to low intake of folate acid pills in this region. This paper investigates the relations between socio-demographic indicators, consumer characteristics (knowledge, consumer perceptions on benefits, risks, safety and price), willingness-to-accept and willingness-to-pay genetically modified (GM) rice. The consumer survey compromises 944 face-to-face interviews with rice consumers in Shanxi Province, China. Multivariate analyses consist of multinomial logistic regression and multiple regression. The results indicate that consumers generally are willing-to-accept GM rice, with an acceptance rate of 62.2%. Acceptance is influenced by objective knowledge and consumers’ perceptions on benefits and risks. Willingness-to-pay GM rice is influenced by objective knowledge, risk perception and acceptance. Communication towards the use of GM rice should target mainly improving knowledge and consumers’ perceptions on high-risk groups within Shanxi Province, in particular low educated women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we conducted a hypothetical choice experiment in Shanghai, China, to examine whether the China Energy Efficiency Label influences consumers'' choices of air conditioners and refrigerators. A latent class approach was applied to observe both heterogeneities among the respondents and product brands. Our results suggested that consumers in Shanghai were well aware of the China Energy Efficiency Label and tended to pay more attention to products with such labels. In addition, air conditioners and refrigerators affixed with a hypothetical label that indicates saving in electricity bills compared with a standard model received significant preferences, which suggested that the more information manufacturers provide, the more their products would be preferred by consumers. Finally, weighted by class probability, the willingness to pay values for more energy efficient refrigerators were higher than those for more energy efficient air conditioners, implying that Shanghai consumers have greater incentive to pay more for appliances they use more frequently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]