Biofuels represent a promising alternative to substitute fossil fuels and, given the relevance of environmental impacts of the transport sector, policy initiatives worldwide aim at supporting the ...shift towards such cleaner energy source. Acknowledging the crucial role that biofuels will play in years to come in the energetic paradigm, the study aims at investigating key-determinants of drivers' willingness to pay for biofuels, focusing on a sample of 260 individuals from Northern Italy (n = 260). In line with recent research on consumer behavior, socio-demographics are not good predictors of drivers' willingness to pay. Surprisingly, on the other hand, knowledge of the topic is negatively correlated to willingness to pay, so that the more people know about biofuels, the less they are willing to pay a premium price. Moreover, certification is not an effective tool to convince drivers of the eco-friendliness of biofuels, hence spurring willingness to pay. Possible explanations of the research findings as well as policy implications are discussed in detail, along with suggestions for future research on the topic.
•Socio-demographic variables are not significant predictors of WTP for biofuels.•WTP for biofuels is negatively correlated to knowledge and awareness of the topic.•There is no significant relation between curtailment behaviors and WTP for biofuels.•There is positive correlation between purchasing behaviors and WTP for biofuels.•Certification is not an effective tool in influencing WTP for biofuels.
Sustainable consumer behavior (SCB) gained significant attention given the relevance it bears for a broad set of actors. Since most of the relevant literature is rooted in western countries, ...researchers and policymakers implicitly assume that behaviors in developing countries tend to replicate those in developed countries. This review, based on seventy-one articles published since 2000, questions such assumption by analyzing the empirical research on SCBs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a distinctive region that has been so far overlooked by mainstream research. Results reveal that most MENA-based papers are rooted in traditional frameworks of the rationalistic stream and that environmental values represent a key driver of SCB, while habits and socio-demographics are relegated to a negligible role. This study provides an added value by synthesizing the fragmented evidence on the topic and discussing aspects emerging as peculiar of the MENA and differentiating the latter from other societies.
•Intentions, habits and past use represent the main predictors of travel mode choice.•Attitudes, social norms and behavioral control also predict modal choice.•Environmental variables predict ...behavioral intentions but not actual behaviors.•There is a high heterogeneity across different studies.•Behaviors’ operationalization and measurement is the main moderator.
Mobility represents a relevant topic from the standpoint of environmental degradation, health-related consequences and social inclusion. Since private mobility is responsible for the greatest share of polluting emissions, it is necessary to gain deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the choice of individuals to use either cars or alternative, environment-friendly transport modes. A meta-analysis on 58 primary studies is conducted to synthesize evidence on the determinants of travel mode choice, as regards both behavioral intentions and actual behaviors. Results suggest that, besides intentions, habits and past use represent the most relevant predictor, followed by constructs referring to the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Environmental variables, on the other hand, play a relevant role in shaping behavioral intentions while their effect on actual behaviors is negligible, so that a deep intention behavior gap emerges. A moderator analysis is performed to explain the high heterogeneity in the results. Behaviors’ operationalization and measurement emerges as the moderator affecting heterogeneity of outcomes the most; trip purpose, sample type and year of the study also show a moderate effect on heterogeneity, while location does not appear to be a relevant moderator.
This study tests hypotheses about behavioural spillover in the environmental domain as well as the impacts of monetary inducements and verbal praise on behavioural spillover by means of a field ...experiment. A sample of 194 students from a large university in Denmark were randomly allocated to a control group or to one of two experimental conditions where they were encouraged to purchase “green” products by means of either financial compensation and incentives or verbal encouragement and praise. Participants answered a baseline survey containing questions concerning a wide range of environmentally relevant behaviours and after a six weeks intervention period where they were requested to keep track of their purchases by means of a shopping diary they answered a second survey with the same content as the first. This allowed us to analyse the change in self-reported pro-environmental behaviours over the six weeks, to identify instances of behavioural spillover from “green” purchase behaviour to other pro-environmental behaviours and to investigate if such spillover was affected by the nature of the intervention. The study revealed a positive spillover from “green” purchasing to other pro-environmental behaviours. However, the spillover mostly affects low-cost behaviours. Not unexpectedly, the monetary inducement had a stronger direct impact on “green” shopping than verbal encouragement and praise. However, contrary to popular beliefs, the spillover effects of a monetary inducement on other pro-environmental behaviours are at least as strong as that of verbal encouragement and praise.
•Field study finds positive spillover from “green” purchasing to other behaviours.•The spillover mostly affects low-cost behaviours.•Monetary inducements affect “green” shopping more than verbal encouragement.•Monetary inducements lead to at least as strong spillover as verbal encouragement.
The study aims to identify the evolution of perspectives on sustainable urban mobility and the principles that have emerged. Despite the burgeoning of interest in and contributions to sustainable ...mobility, the debate on its underlying principles has remained peripheral. The overwhelming focus has been on micro-dynamics and the need for comprehensive perspectives has been underestimated. Principles are crucial whenever there are conflicting policy objectives. Indeed, sustainable mobility practices primarily address obvious emergencies, whose priorities are undisputed. However, once these emergencies have passed, heterogeneous stakeholders may express different priorities for secondary problems, so that the priorities themselves need to be defined through a political process. Such a process requires an in-depth thought on principles. Through a systematic literature review on peer-reviewed journal articles and proceedings from 1996 to 2018, this study highlights two main perspectives that have shaped the way sustainability in urban mobility management is conceived today: planning versus strategy oriented. We then identify a set of principles that have gained center-stage in the debate on urban mobility and that, in our view, show how the debate has evolved: socio-centrism, participatory planning, systemic evaluation of financial sustainability, and integrated mobility management. The new perspective privileges a holistic approach. A pivotal role is played by the social dimension, whereas technical and economic evaluations assume a different role in the political process of priority definition.
Individual mobility represents one of the main contributors of air quality degradation in urban areas, with detrimental social and environmental impacts as well as economic loss. Mobility policies ...hence represent a key public instrument to curb congestion, pollution and health-related problems. In order to be effective, they need to rely on an adequate knowledge of demand, in terms of commuters’ attitudes, habit strength and perceived priorities. While most studies on the determinants of modal choice are rooted in Western countries or in developed economies little evidence is available for fast-developing countries, whose urban areas suffer from severe congestion and bad air quality. We test a comprehensive model to predict mobility behaviors in Vietnam, by means of an empirical investigation, with data from 898 participants (N = 898) collected via an online self-administered questionnaire. We discuss the implications for policy of the research findings, which provide an informational background representing a necessary prerequisite for the implementation of sound policies for the shift to more sustainable paradigms.
Traffic congestion and unsustainable mobility patterns represent a severe issue for most Brazilian cities, with traditional approaches often proving to be scarcely effective in tackling the problem. ...We argue that a crucial hindrance is represented by the limited attention devoted to "the commuter perspective": only a deeper understanding of the motives behind mobility-related behaviors of citizens would enable policy makers to implement sound mobility plans. We performed an empirical investigation on residents of the city of Florianópolis (n = 436), analyzing the determinants of modal choice. Results confirm the pivotal role exerted by habits, and the willingness of respondents to opt for sustainable transport modes; a peculiar finding is represented by the marginality of social and environmental aspects in shaping commuters' behaviors, and the perceived lack of convenient alternatives that is yet hindering a broad shift which is seen as necessary. Based on the evidence emerging from the study, we provide a contribution to the debate by discussing possible lines of action and policy options that could be implemented.
Greening competitiveness for hotels and restaurants Iraldo, Fabio; Testa, Francesco; Lanzini, Pietro ...
Journal of small business and enterprise development,
08/2017, Letnik:
24, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey-based study performed on Italian SMEs in the “hotel, restaurant, café” (HORECA) sector, aimed at investigating the relationship ...between pro-environmental strategies and competitiveness and how such strategies can be exploited to outperform competitors.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey involved 317 Italian SMEs. Regression models have been developed to analyze the causal relationship between three dimensions of competitiveness (competitive advantage over competitors, customer satisfaction and employees’ motivation), and environmental practices that can be adopted by HORECA SMEs.
Findings
Top management commitment emerges as a key driver of competitiveness, confirming the strategic relevance of a sound approach to sustainability also in SMEs operating in the tourism sector. Moreover, actions aimed at investing in green food products (e.g. organic food) and awareness campaigns emerge as strong predictors of good business performance. Finally, at managerial level, entrepreneurs and owners evaluate the implementation of internal sustainability monitoring systems as a relevant support to increase their competitive performance.
Research limitations/implications
Since the results are limited to Italian HORECA businesses, a cross-country comparison could represent a potential improvement of the research. Moreover, since the sector is characterized by the predominance of small and micro firms, specific attention should be devoted to the role played by entrepreneurs’ personal values in shaping business strategies.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between SMEs in the tourism sector and the environmental dimension analyzing the link between the adoption of “green” practices and the competitive performance. The results suggest that customer involvement represents an essential pre-requisite to turn sustainability into an opportunity of market distinctiveness and stress the strategic role of the implementation of performance monitoring systems.
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