Behavioural economics in agroecological payments – what drives farmers’ decisions?

Agroecological payment schemes are key policy instruments for promoting sustainable farming and biodiversity protection, yet participation among farmers remains inconsistent. This study applies a behavioural economics perspective to examine how psychological, social, and contextual factors influence engagement with such schemes. Drawing on an integrated framework that combines Prospect Theory, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and Nudge Theory, the research synthesises empirical evidence from the scientific literature. The analysis identifies loss aversion, present bias, and status quo preferences as major cognitive barriers, while social norms, positive attitudes, and framing effects can encourage adoption.