Research

• Roberts, J., Chandra, G. The Civic Identity of the Ethical Consumer. Voluntas 35, 817–832 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-024-00650-x

• Chandra, G. (2023). Non-monetary intervention to discourage consumption of single-use plastic bags. Behavioural Public Policy, 7(1), 143-156. doi:10.1017/bpp.2020.9 

• Le Grand, J., Roberts, J., & Chandra, G. (2021). Buying for good: Altruism, ethical consumerism and social policy. Social Policy & Administration, 55(7), 1341-1355. doi:10.1111/spol.12729
  
  

• Are Existing Institutional Interventions Effective in Combatting Social Media Misinformation? Experimental Evidence from India

Abstract: Social media platforms are central to online information exchange but have been criticised for spreading harmful misinformation. As countermeasures, platforms have adopted policies like collaborating with fact-checking organisations, labelling false content, promoting verified information, and altering algorithms to reduce the visibility of false posts. Through a randomised controlled trial (N=4342) in India, this study evaluates the impact of exposure to misleading posts on Facebook on users' beliefs, and the effectiveness of the Missing Context label, the most commonly visible label to users on Facebook. I also examine alternative strategies, including more prominent labelling and presenting misinformation warnings with news verification tips before the labelled post. Results show that mere exposure to a misleading post intensifies belief in the falsehood. The Missing Context label doesn't reduce the perceived accuracy of misleading news or its circulation and may sometimes undermine the credibility of true news. Enhanced labels and news verification prompts were also ineffective. Reducing the distribution of misleading posts algorithmically seems more promising in curbing the impact of misinformation.

Paper draft available upon request

• Combining Incentives with Narratives: Online-Field Experiment to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Bags 

Abstract: This study examines how the effectiveness of price-based disincentives can be enhanced by combining them with framing nudges and values-driven narratives. With the aim of reducing demand for single-use plastic bags, I tested these behavioural interventions in a nationwide online randomised controlled trial with Tesco. All online customers (\~1.5 million) were presented with two packing options for their order at the checkout: without plastic carry bags, or with plastic carry bags, and a flat fee of 40p was charged for the latter in line with the UK government's policy. Two treatments were introduced on top of the bag-charge, a framing nudge for choosing the bag-less option, and a values-driven narrative for the charge. Analysis of a random subset (n=90,174) of home delivery orders found both treatments to be more effective than the control  (treatment 2 - ß2=0.03, p < 0.01; treatment 1 - ß1== 0.01, p < 0.01) in encouraging bag-less packing selections. This is the first study to demonstrate, via an online-field experiment, that combining narrative-based behavioural interventions with price disincentives can enhance the effectiveness of the charge.

Paper draft available upon request

• Sharing is Believing? Reposting News on Social Media and its Subsequent Impact on Beliefs about the News Content
  
  

• Financial Stress and Vulnerability to Misinformation (with Ximeng Fang)