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The Future of Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Youth Perspectives in Greece and Poland

Author

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  • Marta Czyżewska

    (Department of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation, Institute of Law, Economics and Administration, University of the National Education Commission, 30-084 Krakow, Poland)

  • Elżbieta Szczygieł

    (Department of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation, Institute of Law, Economics and Administration, University of the National Education Commission, 30-084 Krakow, Poland)

  • Georgios Tsaples

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Dimitra B. Manou

    (School of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Jason Papathanasiou

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

The article compares the young generation’s perspectives on social and environmental problems in Greece and Poland. We examine the visions of young generation representatives for solving these problems and their role in developing sustainable enterprises. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a k-means clustering algorithm in Python to analyze youth perspectives on sustainable enterprises in both countries. The method offers several benefits, including uncovering unexpected patterns, simplifying the data, and highlighting shared views across both countries. The results show that the youth in Greece and Poland widely support the inclusion of social and environmental considerations into business strategies, and despite some differences in the strengths of opinions, they agree that businesses should integrate sustainability into their mission. However, different clusters reveal varying levels of youth knowledge and awareness. Young people believe that businesses should prioritize sustainability, but acknowledge the difficulty of balancing profits with social and environmental goals. Financial support, specific skills, and experience are necessary for establishing sustainable enterprises. An enabling environment and youth empowerment are critical for promoting youth’s sustainable entrepreneurship. Future research could focus on the enabling factors that impact the willingness of youth to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship and on the ways and tools to provide necessary support.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Czyżewska & Elżbieta Szczygieł & Georgios Tsaples & Dimitra B. Manou & Jason Papathanasiou, 2025. "The Future of Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Youth Perspectives in Greece and Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5226-:d:1672952
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