Demographic and Socioeconomic Determinants of Environmental Prioritization over Economic Growth

Abstract

The role of individuals in prioritizing the environment over economic growth is crucial for achieving sustainable development. Individual actions, such as adopting eco-friendly habits, reducing waste, and conserving resources, collectively help mitigate pollution and environmental degradation. This study explores the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of prioritizing the environment overgrowth. The study uses data from the World Values Survey conducted between 2017 and 2021 across 66 countries. The logistic regression model estimates reveal that women, never-married individuals, and urban residents are likelier to prioritize the environment, whereas men and married individuals exhibit lower likelihood. The impact of age suggests no difference in the probability of prioritizing environment over the different age cohorts. Employment status also emerges as a significant factor, with students, wage-employed, self-employed, and retired individuals displaying a greater likelihood of prioritizing the environment than homemakers. Additionally, social class positively correlates with environmental prioritization, with upper-middle-class individuals being more inclined to prioritize the environment than individuals from lower-income groups. The income of the individuals is negatively associated with the likelihood of prioritizing the environment. These findings underscore the complex interactions between demographic and socioeconomic factors in shaping environmental attitudes. The study's findings have important implications in providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to design targeted interventions that empower individuals to play an active role in fostering a sustainable future.