Principal Investigators:
Rym Aloui (Associate Professor, GATE-Lyon Saint-Étienne, Université Lumière Lyon 2)
Sabine Caillaud (Associate Professor, GRePS, Université Lumière Lyon 2)
Collaborators:
Brice Corgnet (EM Lyon, GATE-LSE), Dramane Coulibaly (Université Lumière Lyon 2, GATE-LSE),
Marie-Christine Piperini (Université Lumière Lyon 2, GRePS), Benoît Urgelli (Université Lumière Lyon 2, ECP)
Disciplines involved:
Macroeconomics, Behavioral and Environmental Economics, Social Psychology, and Education Sciences
The Education for Sustainable Development, Preferences and Social Change (EDDPCS) project investigates how education on ecological transition can influence social preferences, attitudes, and individual behaviors toward sustainability.
This interdisciplinary research is part of the national framework mandating sustainability education for all higher education students in France by 2025. It aims to assess how educational programs can shape environmental awareness and drive social change, bridging insights from macroeconomics, psychology, and education sciences.
The project seeks to understand both micro-level transformations—changes in students’ perceptions, motivations, and behaviors—and macro-level implications, by integrating these behavioral shifts into theoretical and quantitative macroeconomic models.
Measure how sustainability education affects environmental attitudes, emotions, and social preferences among students.
Identify which pedagogical approaches are most effective in promoting pro-environmental behaviors.
Integrate behavioral and attitudinal dynamics into macroeconomic models (DSGE) to assess the aggregate implications for growth, consumption, and welfare.
The project combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, including:
– Documentary analysis of sustainability education frameworks and curricula;
– Classroom observations and focus groups;
– Pre- and post-course surveys using digital tools (Moodle, oTree);
– Statistical and econometric analysis of behavioral changes;
– Theoretical modeling to link individual-level findings to macroeconomic outcomes.
The analysis focuses on several dimensions: environmental knowledge, emotional engagement with climate issues, adaptation strategies, social preferences, and pro-environmental intentions.
The project is supported by the APPI interdisciplinary research program (2024–2026) of Université Lumière Lyon 2, funded by the DRED (20,000 €).
Results will be presented in:
– An interdisciplinary workshop in 2026 hosted by Lyon 2;
– Joint seminars between GATE-LSE and GRePS;
– Contributions to the TERRA pole on Transition, Ecology, Resilience, Research & Alliance.
Link: GATE project page