Pro-Environmental Behaviour in the European Union Countries

Aneta Mikuła, Małgorzata Raczkowska and Monika Utzig
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Aneta Mikuła: Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Małgorzata Raczkowska: Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Monika Utzig: Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: The purpose of the presented research is to assess pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) in European Union countries in 2009 and 2019. The study used a synthetic measure developed using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) benchmark method. This method enables distinguishing classes and ranks of countries depending on the adopted characteristics. Basic measures of descriptive statistics, i.e., average, standard deviation and the coefficient of variation, were used in the analysis of the data set. The main research question addressed in this study concerns the relationship between the level of PEB and economic, demographic, and educational factors—not only on a micro scale but also from the macroeconomic perspective. The research has revealed a wide variety throughout the European Union (EU-27) countries in terms of pro-environmental behaviour. Sweden, Finland, and Denmark top the ranking, while Malta, Greece, Spain, and Romania are at the bottom of it. Northern European countries can therefore be identified as a group that represents a positive benchmark in terms of PEB across the European Union (EU-27). The correlation between PEB and selected economic, demographic, and education-related variables was also investigated. Country-level PEB is correlated with demographic and economic variables, but it is not correlated with education-related variables.

Keywords: environment; pro-environmental behaviours; TOPSIS; European Union; households (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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