Analyzing the Single-Use Plastic Bags Ban Policy in California with Social Network Model and Diffusion Model

Abstract

This study seeks to identify key social network attributes of network micro-level actors and to examine how socio-economic attributes of micro-level actors, cities, contributed to diffusion of the environmental policy, which bans the use of single-use plastic bags in grocers in California. By incorporating social network models, dynamic network model and small world phenomenon, and diffusion theory, leader and laggard model, this study seeks to answer, ‘how the environmental regulatory policy which bans the use of single-use plastic bags in grocers in California has been diffused’.