Sustainability

Research

41 pages, 1965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The ESG Patterns of Emerging-Market Companies: Are There Differences in Their Sustainable Behavior after COVID-19?

by Barbara Rocha Gonzaga, Marcelo Cabus Klotzle, Talles Vianna Brugni, Ileana-Sorina Rakos, Ionela Cornelia Cioca, Cristian-Marian Barbu and Teodora Cucerzan

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020676 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2200

Abstract

We aim to map the ESG patterns of emerging-market companies from 2018 to 2021 in order to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic exerted any influence on sustainable corporate behavior. Thus, the ESG performances were assessed by employing the Kohonen Self-Organizing Map (also known [...] Read more.

We aim to map the ESG patterns of emerging-market companies from 2018 to 2021 in order to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic exerted any influence on sustainable corporate behavior. Thus, the ESG performances were assessed by employing the Kohonen Self-Organizing Map (also known as the Kohonen neural network) for clustering purposes at three levels: (i) ESG overall, including country and sectoral perspectives; (ii) ESG thematic; and (iii) ESG four-folded (stakeholder, perspective, management, and focus strategic views). Our results show that emerging-market companies focus their ESG efforts on social and governance issues rather than on environmental. However, environmental and social behavior differ more acutely than governance behavior across clusters. The analyses of country-level ESG performance and that of eleven market-based economic sectors corroborate the geographic and sector dependence of ESG performance. The thematic-level analysis indicates that operational activities and community issues received more attention, which suggests that emerging-market companies address distinct ESG topics according to their particularities and competitiveness. Furthermore, our empirical findings provide evidence that the ESG behavior of companies has changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, our findings are relevant to policy makers involved in regulating ESG disclosure practices, investors focused on enhancing their sustainable investment strategies, and firms engaged in improving their ESG involvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigating the Post-Pandemic Era: The Mediating Role of Relationship Quality and Perceived Value on Cruise Passengers’ E-WOM in Taiwan

by Xiyu Zhang, Min-Yen Chang, Mengqi Rong and Han-Shen Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14416; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914416 - 1 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1604

Abstract

Prompted by the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Taiwan’s cruise industry, this research aims to explore the potential role of corporate social responsibility (CSR), relationship quality (RQ), and perceived value (PV) in reviving cruise tourism. The central research question focuses on [...] Read more.

Prompted by the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Taiwan’s cruise industry, this research aims to explore the potential role of corporate social responsibility (CSR), relationship quality (RQ), and perceived value (PV) in reviving cruise tourism. The central research question focuses on how these constructs motivate Taiwanese passengers’ engagement in cruise tourism and shape their electronic word-of-mouth (E-WOM) behavior in the post-pandemic era. Therefore, a comprehensive theoretical model was proposed to evaluate cruise operators’ relationship-building strategies. The research method involved a convenience sampling approach to gather a robust dataset of 566 valid responses from a questionnaire survey. The data were rigorously analyzed using statistical software, SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, via the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings reveal that CSR and RQ substantially impact customers’ E-WOM and identified PV and RQ as salient mediators between CSR and E-WOM. In conclusion, this research enriches our understanding of the recovering cruise industry’s operation model in the post-pandemic phase. It provides academically grounded insights into how enhanced relationship building, CSR, and PV generation can enable cruise operators to influence E-WOM behavior positively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Environmental Sustainability: Stakeholder Pressure and Corporate CO₂-Related Performance—An Examination of the Mediating and Moderating Effects of Corporate Decarbonization Strategies

by Oksana Seroka-Stolka

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14257; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914257 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2447

Abstract

Climate change mitigation and the imperative to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) remain significant challenges. The primary source of this problem and a crucial aspect of its resolution lie in carbon-intensive companies responsible for emitting substantial quantities of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Many [...] Read more.

Climate change mitigation and the imperative to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) remain significant challenges. The primary source of this problem and a crucial aspect of its resolution lie in carbon-intensive companies responsible for emitting substantial quantities of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Many polluting companies, such as energy producers, have been forced to take actions to adopt effective strategies and achieve better performance to mitigate emissions. This is also a result of pressure from stakeholders that is exerted on companies to decrease their carbon dioxide pollution. Therefore, this study focuses on two research questions: How does stakeholder pressure impact CO₂-related performance? Do decarbonization strategies mediate and moderate the relationship between stakeholder pressure and CO₂-related performance in companies? Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between stakeholder pressure for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and corporate CO₂-related performance, and to test the impact of adopting decarbonization strategies on corporate CO₂-related performance. Additionally, we examine the mediating and moderating effects of decarbonization strategy adoption on the relationship between stakeholder pressure and corporate CO₂-related performance. This study was conducted on a sample of 122 energy producers in Poland. To test the hypotheses, linear multiple regression analysis was employed. The findings reveal a positive relationship between stakeholder pressure and the adoption of decarbonization strategies, as well as CO₂-related performance. Furthermore, the results confirm the mediating effect of decarbonization strategy, while the moderating effect of decarbonization strategies remains unproven. The results have important practical implications for managers, who are required to identify stakeholders’ demands related to CO₂ emissions. Based on this, they should implement active strategies to achieve better CO₂-related performance and minimize their carbon footprint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Market-Oriented Business Environment and ICT on Sustainable Development: Panel Evidence from the New EU Member States

by Nursel Aydıntuğ Myrvang, Gamze Sart, Marina Danilina and Mohammad A. Ta’Amnha

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914096 - 23 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1961

Abstract

Sustainable development has become a key factor in decreasing economic and social inequalities and environmental problems in the world. This problem aligns with the crusade of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs-8 and 10). To this end, the present study seeks to [...] Read more.

Sustainable development has become a key factor in decreasing economic and social inequalities and environmental problems in the world. This problem aligns with the crusade of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs-8 and 10). To this end, the present study seeks to identify factors underlying sustainable development for vital and optimal policymaking. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of a market-oriented business environment together with information and communication technologies (ICT) on overall sustainable development in new EU members who experienced a transition to a market economy for annual frequency period ranging from 2000–2020 via novel cointegration and causality tests adequate to the dataset size and characteristics. The study aimed to make a contribution to the related empirical literature, as there is a paucity of documentation in the extant literature on the nexus between the business environment and overall sustainable development. Furthermore, the use of cointegration and causality tests considering heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence increased the robustness of the empirical results. The consequences of causality and cointegration analyses uncovered that the market-oriented business environment and ICT were short- and long-run drivers of sustainable development. However, the impact of ICT on sustainable development was relatively stronger than the impact of the market-oriented business environment in the long run. As a result, policies to improve market-oriented business environments, ICT infrastructure, ICT adoption, and digital literacy can be useful to make progress in overall sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trade Openness and Sustainable Government Size: Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries

by Ahmet Tekin, İbrahim Tuğrul Çınar, Ersin Nail Sağdıç and Fazlı Yıldız

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11836; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511836 - 1 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

The ongoing discussion regarding the role of the free market economy and the extent of state intervention is a critical subject in economics. This matter holds special significance for transition economies, as it presents both challenges and opportunities in such contexts. One may [...] Read more.

The ongoing discussion regarding the role of the free market economy and the extent of state intervention is a critical subject in economics. This matter holds special significance for transition economies, as it presents both challenges and opportunities in such contexts. One may perceive the degree of trade openness as a path toward welfare societies. However, the dual impacts of trade openness on an economy, namely, the compensation and efficiency hypotheses, must be considered. The compensation hypothesis proposes that global trade can enhance the economic influence of the state, whereas the efficiency hypothesis advocates for a contraction in the state’s economic undertakings. This study focuses on interpreting this complex scenario, specifically in the context of the European Union’s transition economies. The aim of this research is to uncover how the economic magnitude of a nation influences trade liberalization, and consequently the free market economy, in Central and East European (CCE) countries, using public choice theory as a foundation. The research delves into the causal relationship between trade openness and government size in eleven CCE countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. The period covered in this study ranges from 1996 to 2021. The methodological tool utilized for this investigation is the Kónya bootstrap Granger causality test, which accommodates cross-sectional dependence and country-specific variances. The novelty of this study lies in its application of both the compensation and efficiency hypotheses to the context of 11 transition economies in the Central and Eastern European (CCE) region. The results from the Granger causality test demonstrate a unidirectional positive correlation between trade openness and the size of the government for Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, and Estonia. On the contrary, Slovenia exhibited a unidirectional negative correlation. These findings confirm the applicability of the compensation hypothesis in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, and Estonia, while supporting the efficiency hypothesis in Slovenia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Sustainability Indicators from Employees’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study on Whether Social Sustainability in Businesses Is Perceived as a Necessity, Preference, or Dream

by Serap Kalfaoğlu

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7954; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107954 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2383

Abstract

Contrary to the economic and environmental perspectives of sustainability, its social dimension seems to be overshadowed by the lack of research. The objective of this study is to identify social sustainability indicators in businesses from the perspective of employees. The study sheds light [...] Read more.

Contrary to the economic and environmental perspectives of sustainability, its social dimension seems to be overshadowed by the lack of research. The objective of this study is to identify social sustainability indicators in businesses from the perspective of employees. The study sheds light on the meaning and practices of social sustainability, and aims to understand how employees perceive and define social sustainability in the context of businesses. In this direction, data were collected from eight high-level employees working in different units in different sectors, with thematic analysis from qualitative research designs and in-depth interviews. The MAXQDA 2020 Program was used in the analysis of the data. As a result, in accordance with the designed model, three basic categories as “socially beneficial applications”, “anthropocentrism in job design”, and “value-creating relationships system” and twenty-six subcategories were defined. Based on the perspective of employees, it has been revealed that there is still a lack of complete awareness regarding social sustainability practices in businesses. However, it is believed that these practices are essential for protecting the future, creating a secure and unified environment, and promoting accountability and transparency towards stakeholders. Furthermore, efforts to enhance employee competence are considered important in the context of social sustainability practices in businesses. This study fills an important gap in the literature in terms of determining social criteria in terms of interpreting the performances of businesses and measuring their success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Social Media in Managing Knowledge of the Young Generation in the Sustainability Area

by Arnold Pabian and Barbara Pabian

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6008; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076008 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3714

Abstract

Knowledge plays a significant role in the area of sustainability. It is indispensable for taking the right pro-environmental and pro-social action. One of its sources is social media. The young generation is the largest group of social media users. The aim of this [...] Read more.

Knowledge plays a significant role in the area of sustainability. It is indispensable for taking the right pro-environmental and pro-social action. One of its sources is social media. The young generation is the largest group of social media users. The aim of this article is to discover whether social media is properly fulfilling its role in managing the sustainability knowledge of the young generation, taking into account the acquisition, collection and development of knowledge, as well as its dissemination and use. To address this issue, the authors conducted a survey on a representative sample of 1100 persons aged 15–24. The survey was quantitative in nature. The research tool constituted a survey form. The CAWI (computer-assisted web interview) technique was used to collect information. The collected data was analysed using mainly exploratory data analysis. Column, bar and line charts were used to visualise the data. The study discovered that social media, although highly popular among young people, makes an insufficient contribution to the management of their knowledge in the area studied. A significant proportion of the young generation rarely or never encounter sustainability content in these media (48.1% on average). On average, 22.7% of young people find this content unattractive. The majority of young people (60% or more) do not read all sustainability messages in detail. Approximately 1/3 of the young generation does not gather or develop knowledge in this area. A significant proportion of young people do not share such knowledge and, even worse, it does not inspire them to take up environmental and pro-social activities. The conclusions of the study and the solutions proposed by the authors can contribute to a better use of social media in the management of the young generation’s sustainability knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Entrepreneurial Activity and ICT Development on Sustainable Development: Evidence from High-Income Countries

by Lina Karabetyan

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4958; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064958 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2424

Abstract

Sustainable development has become a vital issue in the globalizing world given the food insecurity, climate change, significant degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, the identification of the key factors behind sustainable development is important for [...] Read more.

Sustainable development has become a vital issue in the globalizing world given the food insecurity, climate change, significant degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, the identification of the key factors behind sustainable development is important for the planning and application of the proper policies by countries. In this context, the institutional, demographic, social, and economic determinants of overall sustainable development have been extensively explored, but the interplay among sustainable development, entrepreneurial activity, and ICT development has stayed relatively untouched. This article investigates the effect of entrepreneurial activity, proxied by total early-stage entrepreneurial activity and ICT development, on the overall sustainable development of 15 high-income countries over the 2002–2018 period; it uses the Westerlund and Edgerton cointegration test with a structural break, taking notice of the gap in the empirical literature regarding the determinants of sustainable development. The cointegration analysis shows that entrepreneurial activity and ICT development have a positive influence on sustainable development in the long run, but that the effect of ICT on overall sustainable development is shown to be stronger in comparison to entrepreneurial activity. ICT penetration and entrepreneurial activity should be encouraged through institutional, educational, and fiscal incentives to make progress in sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

13 pages, 244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development Trends and Potential in the Field of Virtual Tourism after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Generation Z Example

by Katarzyna Bilińska, Barbara Pabian, Aleksander Pabian and Beata Reformat

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031889 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4499

Abstract

Until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual tourism was not as popular as during its duration in 2021, when traveling in the real world was not possible due to social isolation and forced quarantine. In response to the lockdown and the lack [...] Read more.

Until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual tourism was not as popular as during its duration in 2021, when traveling in the real world was not possible due to social isolation and forced quarantine. In response to the lockdown and the lack of freedom of movement around the world, tourists decided to travel in cyberspace during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this way only, and without leaving home, could they visit tourist attractions, watch museum exhibitions, participate in various media events and take virtual walks. After the “unfreezing” of tourism, the time has now come to adapt tourism to the post-pandemic normality. The aim of the paper is to discover whether the new trend of online tourism that developed during the pandemic will stay with us forever and how it will evolve, especially for Generation Z, who are just entering the labor market but who, at the same time, will determine the future of tourism soon. The research results show that as the pandemic restrictions disappear, the need to experience various forms of tourism in places previously viewed in cyberspace (virtually), occurs among the representatives of Generation Z. Thus, virtual tourism is a form that precedes and complements a real journey. The qualitative method was chosen for the research conducted in Poland. The research was carried out in 2022. A total of 40 focus groups of 7 people each (N = 280) participated in the research. They consisted of Generation Z representatives born after 1995; the oldest of them will be 27 in 2022. In parallel, the method of in-depth individual interviews was used in the research. In order to reach the participants, a non-random sample was chosen using the “snowball” method. In total, 100 people took part in the in-depth individual interview. The two-track research allowed to obtain a total sample of N = 380. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

15 pages, 491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediating Effect of Organizational Justice Perception on the Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Workplace Deviant Behaviors

by Cenk Tufan, Mete Kaan Namal, Bulent Arpat, Yeliz Yesil and Ibrahim Sani Mert

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021342 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3432

Abstract

The present study examines whether there is a relationship between the ethical leadership (EL), organizational justice perception (OJP), and deviant behaviors (WDB) of customs officers working at international airports in Turkey, and aims to determine whether OJP has a mediating effect on the [...] Read more.

The present study examines whether there is a relationship between the ethical leadership (EL), organizational justice perception (OJP), and deviant behaviors (WDB) of customs officers working at international airports in Turkey, and aims to determine whether OJP has a mediating effect on the relationship between EL and WDB. For this purpose, the study was conducted on the 487 customs officers working at 28 airports open to international flights in Turkey. In this study, which was carried out with the quantitative method, the obtained data were analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that EL had a direct and significant effect on OJP. On the other hand, OJP had a negative direct, and significant effect on deviant workplace behaviors. Moreover, there was no direct and consequential effect of EL on WDB. In addition, EL indirectly affected WDB through OJP, and the OJP had a full mediation effect between these two variables. The findings were interpreted by using social exchange theory. This study develops our understanding of the organization-level antecedents of WDB and mediating role of OJP as the social mechanism of EL. In the Conclusion section of the study, some theoretical conclusions are discussed, and recommendations are offered for customs managers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impacts of COVID-19 on Returned Migrants’ Livelihood Vulnerability in the Central Coastal Region of Vietnam

by Le Thi Hoa Sen, Jennifer Bond, Pham Huu Ty and Le Thi Hong Phuong

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010484 - 28 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods of households with migration workers, who returned home to the central coastal region during the peak disease outbreak in Vietnam. Five hundred and twenty-nine households with returned migration workers aged eighteen and [...] Read more.

This study investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods of households with migration workers, who returned home to the central coastal region during the peak disease outbreak in Vietnam. Five hundred and twenty-nine households with returned migration workers aged eighteen and above in the coastal areas of Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, and Thừa Thiên Huế provinces participated in this study. Results showed that the livelihoods of all studied households were highly vulnerable due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with almost 90% at moderate or high risk according to the vulnerability index. All livelihood assets were negatively affected, and financial, psychological, and social assets were the most affected, with Common Vulnerability Score System scores of 3.65, 3.39, and 3.17, respectively. Male, younger workers, or those with a lower education level and fewer social networks were found to be more vulnerable than others. This study suggests that young laborers could aim to attain a higher level of education and/or practical skills to be able to obtain stable employment with benefits such as social insurance if they desire to out-migrate. Further, social programs which allow for migration workers at the destination to meet each other may have positive impacts on their vulnerability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Economic Security of the Region in the Context of Human Capital Development

by Nataliya V. Yakovenko, Lyudmila Semenova, Marina Ye. Tsoy, Galina I. Zavyalova, Elena A. Semenova and Irina A. Belenok

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010404 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3025

Abstract

Socio-economic security is a highly critical issue that is addressed by every country in the world. In order to counteract challenges and threats faced by Russia, the Economic Security Strategy of the Russian Federation has been formulated. The development of human capital was [...] Read more.

Socio-economic security is a highly critical issue that is addressed by every country in the world. In order to counteract challenges and threats faced by Russia, the Economic Security Strategy of the Russian Federation has been formulated. The development of human capital was proclaimed as one of the key areas to be targeted by the state policy. In this regard, the primary task is to identify destabilizing factors of socio-economic security in the development of human capital, which determined the relevance of the article. The article analyzes the research approaches to defining the key features of socio-economic security and human capital. It highlights the main principles of the theory of human capital on the basis of which a systematic approach to the study of human capital is justified. The proposed approach aims to identify negative factors that weaken regional security. By adopting this approach to the data in hand, the socio-economic security of the Voronezh Region, the old-developed region of the Central Black Earth Region in Russia, has been assessed. The data used for the analysis were collected from the Federal State Statistics Service. The mapping of the results of socio-economic differentiation was carried out by methods of GIS-technology, in particular Quantum GIS 12. For the processing of the initial information, the of multivariate statistical and econometric analysis SPSS Statistic 20.0 was used. As a result, factors that will have a negative impact on the development of human capital in the foreseeable future have been identified, namely the deterioration of the demographic situation, in particular the aging of the population and its natural decline; the decline in the quality of education, imbalances in the labor market, declining living standards, and deteriorating public health. It is concluded that to overcome the critical situation in the sphere of human capital and to ensure socio-economic security, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 3171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of the Entrepreneurial Initiative during a Pandemic: The Case of Plovdiv

by Mina Nikolaeva Angelova, Daniela Dobreva Pastarmadzhieva and Aleksandar Tsvetanov Naydenov

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113753 - 24 Oct 2022

Viewed by 2083

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a trying time for both businesses and citizens. The measures and restrictions were devastating for the economy. As different countries had their strengths and challenges in dealing with the pandemic, there no unified approach applicable to every context. However, [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a trying time for both businesses and citizens. The measures and restrictions were devastating for the economy. As different countries had their strengths and challenges in dealing with the pandemic, there no unified approach applicable to every context. However, the entrepreneurial initiative is what boosts the economic development in each free market economy. The current paper’s goal is to evaluate how the pandemic affects entrepreneurial initiatives and to determine the degree to which three sets of elements influence these initiatives. The scope of the research is enterprises, working in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and the focus is the entrepreneurial initiative among them. The research with the enterprises is based only on a quantitative method—a survey across a representative sample of the general population of the enterprises whose headquarters are registered in the territory of the city of Plovdiv. The representative sample was selected as a random sample of 1000 companies (with an assumed response rate of about 10%), stratified by the size of the enterprise (number of employees) and by the field of economic activity. Statistical analysis was performed using the software product IBM SPSS version 26. The results show that the personal characteristics of the respondents are more relevant to the results rather than the specifics of the enterprise. The relevance of both work experience and ownership of the enterprise as preconditions that create opportunities for entrepreneurial initiatives during the global crisis offers a further empirical contribution. A key theoretical contribution of this study lies in finding evidence that innovativeness has a significant direct effect on behavioral intention to acquire new opportunities during crisis conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Higher Education and Globalization on Sustainable Development in the New EU Member States

by Gamze Sart

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11916; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911916 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2767

Abstract

Sustainable development has been one of the critical issues on the world agenda since the 1970s given the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, inequalities, population growth, and urbanization. Therefore, uncovering the factors underlying sustainable development matters for the design of optimal policies. [...] Read more.

Sustainable development has been one of the critical issues on the world agenda since the 1970s given the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, inequalities, population growth, and urbanization. Therefore, uncovering the factors underlying sustainable development matters for the design of optimal policies. This study investigates the influence of higher education and globalization on sustainable development in the new EU members for the 2000–2019 duration with a panel data approach in view of the research gap in the empirical literature. The consequences of the analyses point out that higher education and globalization have significant influences on sustainable development in the short and long terms. However, the long-term influence of globalization over sustainable development is found to be relatively higher than the influence of higher education on sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 World

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (14 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI