Green values and transparency of household savings: a survey

This paper studies the interest of individuals for transparency regarding how their savings are invested. Using a sample of 1, 075 questionnaires from a panel of French individuals who participate in the financial decisions of their households, we investigate whether these individuals care about the sector allocation and the carbon footprint of their savings. Our results show that green consumption values are the main driver of interest for transparency. Furthermore, by analyzing the willingness of individuals to pay for transparency, we show the reluctance of individuals who exhibit green values to pay for this kind of information. In addition, our results show that individuals with pecuniary motives for sustainable investments also attach great importance to transparency. From a general standpoint, our findings contribute to analyzing the barriers that may hinder the mobilization of household savings for funding the green transition.