A Comparative Study on Water Conservation through Behavioral Economics Based Nudging: Evidence from Indian City "A Nudge in Time Can Save Nine"
AMISHI NAYAR, Dr. S. KANAKA

Abstract
Indian cities are living on borrowed time. Their critical infrastructure for essentials like water is creaking and inadequate. City managers are running out of practical solutions and are losing lives to water borne disease. Thus every little of treated water becomes gold. In this context behavioral Economics provides a low cost alternative solution to save the blue gold. In this paper, we are highlighting how nudges can be implemented in the Indian cities through school children and adults for water conservation to bridge the intention and action gap. This Nudge intervention resulted in average monthly energy savings of 23.61 kwh, and 10.3 percent water saving equivalent to 9689 liters reduction in water consumption in the school children residents and apartments were approached directly were resulted of 5.02 percent equivalent to 504.68 litres. Hence the Behavioural Nudges particularly through children can provide policy makers an inexpensive and effective intervention to address the urban water conservation challenge.

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