IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i6p1597-d516381.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Justyna Parzonko

    (Department of Tourism, Social Communication and Counselling, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Agata Balińska

    (Department of Tourism, Social Communication and Counselling, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Anna Sieczko

    (Department of Tourism, Social Communication and Counselling, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

The research reported here aims to investigate the pro-environmental behavior of respondents in the context of the concept of homo socio-oeconomicus. The main research question addressed in this paper considers the pro-environmental behavior of Generation Z representatives, due to the fact that this age group is believed to display different behavior patterns. In order to identify the differences in the pro-environmental behaviors of Generation Z, the results obtained from this group have been confronted with declarations of respondents from an older group (aged 25 to 65). It is worth noting that in the research on pro-environmental behavior of households in Poland conducted so far, Generation Z has not been taken into consideration as a separate demographic, so this study aims to make a contribution to the existing research gap. The data on the surveyed population were obtained through a standardized research questionnaire. The survey was carried out using the internet surveying technique—computer-assisted web interview (CAWI). This paper uses descriptive, tabular and graphic methods to analyze and present the collected materials. The basic measures of descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the dataset, i.e., mean, median, mode, Pearson chi-square test and Mann–Whitney U test. The conducted research has shown that the representatives of Generation Z are less engaged in pro-environmental behavior than people from the older age group. Their pro-environmental actions mainly included turning off lights when leaving a room and choosing public transportation as the basic means of transport. For the whole surveyed sample, the most highly rated pro-environmental behaviors included those imposed by legal regulations and those whose implementation brings financial benefits in the form of lower maintenance costs. The main motivating and demotivating factors determining pro-environmental behavior were predominantly economic in nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Justyna Parzonko & Agata Balińska & Anna Sieczko, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:6:p:1597-:d:516381
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/6/1597/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/6/1597/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Seihun Yang & Weiming Chen & Hana Kim, 2021. "Building Energy Commons: Three Mini-PV Installation Cases in Apartment Complexes in Seoul," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Eun-Young Lee & Asaduzzaman Khan, 2020. "Prevalence and Clustering Patterns of Pro-Environmental Behaviors among Canadian Households in the Era of Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Andrew R. Thomas & Nicolae Al. Pop & Constantin Bratianu (ed.), 2013. "The Changing Business Landscape of Romania," Springer Books, Springer, edition 127, number 978-1-4614-6865-3, September.
    4. Daryanto, Ahmad & Song, Zening, 2021. "A meta-analysis of the relationship between place attachment and pro-environmental behaviour," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 208-219.
    5. Joseph Persky, 1995. "The Ethology of Homo Economicus," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(2), pages 221-231, Spring.
    6. Gábor Pintér & Henrik Zsiborács & Nóra Hegedűsné Baranyai & András Vincze & Zoltán Birkner, 2020. "The Economic and Geographical Aspects of the Status of Small-Scale Photovoltaic Systems in Hungary—A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-22, July.
    7. Luigino Bruni & Robert Sugden, 2007. "The road not taken: how psychology was removed from economics, and how it might be brought back," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 117(516), pages 146-173, January.
    8. Heidi Bruderer Enzler & Andreas Diekmann, 2015. "Environmental Impact and Pro-Environmental Behavior: Correlations to Income and Environmental Concern," ETH Zurich Sociology Working Papers 9, ETH Zurich, Chair of Sociology.
    9. Irene C. L. Ng & Lu‐Ming Tseng, 2008. "Learning to be Sociable: The Evolution of Homo Economicus," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(2), pages 265-286, April.
    10. Luigino Bruni & Francesco Guala, 2001. "Vilfredo Pareto and the Epistemological Foundations of Choice Theory," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 33(1), pages 21-49, Spring.
    11. Eriksson, Louise & Garvill, Jörgen & Nordlund, Annika M., 2008. "Acceptability of single and combined transport policy measures: The importance of environmental and policy specific beliefs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(8), pages 1117-1128, October.
    12. D. Pimentel & A. Pleasant & J. Barron & J. Gaudioso & N. Pollock & E. Chae & Y. Kim & A. Lassiter & C. Schiavoni & A. Jackson & M. Lee & A. EATON, 2004. "US Energy Conservation and Efficiency: Benefits and Costs," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 279-305, September.
    13. Chad M. Baum & Christian Gross, 2017. "Sustainability policy as if people mattered: developing a framework for environmentally significant behavioral change," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 53-95, April.
    14. Ariane Zingiro & Julius Okello & Paul Guthiga, 2014. "Assessment of adoption and impact of rainwater harvesting technologies on rural farm household income: the case of rainwater harvesting ponds in Rwanda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1281-1298, December.
    15. Reisch, Lucia A. & Zhao, Min, 2017. "Behavioural economics, consumer behaviour and consumer policy: state of the art," Behavioural Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(2), pages 190-206, November.
    16. Richard H. Thaler, 2016. "Behavioral Economics: Past, Present, and Future," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(7), pages 1577-1600, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kh Md Nahiduzzaman & Abdullatif Said Abdallah & Arash Moradzadeh & Amin Mohammadpour Shotorbani & Kasun Hewage & Rehan Sadiq, 2023. "Impacts of Tariffs on Energy Conscious Behavior with Respect to Household Attributes in Saudi Arabia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Manchanda, Parul & Arora, Nupur & Nazir, Owais & Islam, Jamid Ul, 2023. "Cultivating sustainability consciousness through mindfulness: An application of theory of mindful-consumption," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Shen, Famei & Li, Jie & Chen, Jianghang & Wang, Wangshuai, 2023. "Exploring young consumers’ intention to pay for shared express packaging: A multi-study analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Anna Mularczyk & Iwona Zdonek & Marian Turek & Stanisław Tokarski, 2022. "Intentions to Use Prosumer Photovoltaic Technology in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Leszek Sieczko & Anna Justyna Parzonko & Anna Sieczko, 2021. "Trust in Collective Entrepreneurship in the Context of the Development of Rural Areas in Poland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-26, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stavros, Drakopoulos, 2021. "The Relation of Neoclassical Economics to other Disciplines: The case of Physics and Psychology," MPRA Paper 106597, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Leszek Sieczko & Anna Justyna Parzonko & Anna Sieczko, 2021. "Trust in Collective Entrepreneurship in the Context of the Development of Rural Areas in Poland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-26, November.
    3. Drakopoulos, Stavros A. & Katselidis, Ioannis, 2017. "The Relationship between Psychology and Economics: Insights from the History of Economic Thought," MPRA Paper 77485, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Arkadiusz Sieron, 2020. "Some Problems of Behavioral Economics," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 336-362.
    5. Jimena Hurtado & Johanna Mick, 2011. "Utilitarianism and Economic Behavior. Looking for Benthamite Traces," Documentos CEDE 9251, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    6. Hyowon Kim & Dong Soo Kim & Greg M. Allenby, 2020. "Benefit Formation and Enhancement," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 419-468, December.
    7. Carl Christian von Weizsäcker, 2011. "Homo Oeconomicus Adaptivus – Die Logik des Handelns bei veränderlichen Präferenzen," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2011_10, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.
    8. Francesco GUALA, 2017. "Preferences: Neither Behavioural nor Mental," Departmental Working Papers 2017-05, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    9. Victor Moutinho & Mara Madaleno, 2021. "Assessing Eco-Efficiency in Asian and African Countries Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    10. Martin, Elliot & Shaheen, Susan & Lipman, Timothy & Camel, Madonna, 2014. "Evaluating the public perception of a feebate policy in California through the estimation and cross-validation of an ordinal regression model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 144-153.
    11. Bhardwaj, Chandan & Axsen, Jonn & Kern, Florian & McCollum, David, 2020. "Why have multiple climate policies for light-duty vehicles? Policy mix rationales, interactions and research gaps," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 309-326.
    12. Jean Baccelli & Philippe Mongin, 2016. "Choice-based cardinal utility: a tribute to Patrick Suppes," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 268-288, July.
    13. Serhat Burmaoglu & Ozcan Saritas, 2019. "An evolutionary analysis of the innovation policy domain: Is there a paradigm shift?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 118(3), pages 823-847, March.
    14. Seif Khiati & Rafik Belarbi & Ammar Yahia, 2023. "Sustainable Buildings: A Choice, or a Must for Our Future?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-5, March.
    15. Faure, Corinne & Guetlein, Marie-Charlotte & Schleich, Joachim & Tu, Gengyang & Whitmarsh, Lorraine & Whittle, Colin, 2022. "Household acceptability of energy efficiency policies in the European Union: Policy characteristics trade-offs and the role of trust in government and environmental identity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    16. Michel Zouboulakis, 2010. "Trustworthiness as a Moral Determinant of Economic Activity: Lessons from the Classics," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(3), pages 209-221, January.
    17. Hamid Mahmood Gelaidan & Abdullah Al-Swidi & Muhammad Haroon Hafeez, 2023. "Studying the Joint Effects of Perceived Service Quality, Perceived Benefits, and Environmental Concerns in Sustainable Travel Behavior: Extending the TPB," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    18. Junyi Chai & Zhiquan Weng & Wenbin Liu, 2021. "Behavioral Decision Making in Normative and Descriptive Views: A Critical Review of Literature," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, October.
    19. L. Mundaca & H. Moncreiff, 2021. "New Perspectives on Green Energy Defaults," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 357-383, September.
    20. Qiaoling Wang & Ziyu Kou & Xiaodan Sun & Shanshan Wang & Xianjuan Wang & Hui Jing & Peiying Lin, 2022. "Predictive Analysis of the Pro-Environmental Behaviour of College Students Using a Decision-Tree Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:6:p:1597-:d:516381. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.