Environmental protection or economic growth? : Differences in attitudes towards environmental protection and economic growth based on age, gender, education and financial security

This study investigates the prioritization of Greek and Swedish citizens between environmental protection and economic growth. Socio-economic characteristics are explored that influence the setting of priorities. The study aims at answering the following research question: To what extent can differences in perceptions of environmental protection as compared to economic growth be explained by socio-economic profiles of individuals in Sweden and Greece? Using quantitative survey data from 2019, four socio-economic variables were analysed: (a) gender, (b) age, (c) education and (d) living standard. After conducting a multiple-regression analysis including these variables, it becomes visible that due to a low explanatory power of the results, the suggested variables hardly explain the respondents’ environmental and economic preferences. However, from significant results it can be concluded that in Sweden, a higher living standard as well as masculinity positively affect the prioritisation of economic growth when compared to environmental protection.