We study whether laboratory measures of prosociality predict sustainable behavior in the field. We measure prosociality among a representative sample of the Italian adult population using two games: (i) a public goods game, which captures individuals’ willingness to cooperate in a setting with positive externalities for others, and (ii) an externality game, which measures aversion to generating negative externalities for personal gain. The same participants subsequently complete a 14-day evening diary based on the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM; Kahneman et al., 2004; Navarro Martínez et al., 2023), providing detailed information on their daily behaviors. These behaviors are categorized into three key domains of sustainable action: mobility, household energy use, and food consumption. For mobility, we record whether participants travel to work or study and the modes of transportation used. Household energy use is assessed through reported heating, showering, washing machine use, and other energy-related practices. For food consumption, we collect data on meal composition and whether meals are predominantly plant-based.  This study aims to link experimentally measured social preferences with real-world sustainable behaviors, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the behavioral determinants of environmental sustainability and informing future research and policy design in this area.

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