Public transaction costs of agri-environmental schemes and their determinants-Analysing stakeholders' involvement and perceptions

► We investigated public transaction costs of European agri-environmental schemes. ► We defined the factors influencing the costs to design the schemes based on a survey. ► Mainly scheme related factors are perceived to have an influence. ► Governance structure, institutional environment and level of trust also play a role. ► Actors involved in the schemes have only limited knowledge of transaction costs.