Economic Themes (2016) 54 (4) 3, 499-515
Borislava Stoimenova
Abstract: This paper examines the environmental knowledge of the Bulgarians and its relationship with the environmental concern and the predisposition to compromise as two commonly studied attitudes towards green consumption. A quota sample (quotas for age and gender) of 2018 adults from all the regions in Bulgaria is used. The research tool for face-to-face interviews and online surveys is a structured interview. Descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests for difference of means between two independent samples, the correlation analysis (chi-square test for independence) and the cluster analysis (K-means cluster) are the methods applied for the analysis. The results indicate that the Bulgarians are moderately knowledgeable about the environmental problems and the depth of knowledge is moderate as well. The environmental knowledge differs between different demographic groups: the better educated, younger, those living in the cities and wealthier people have better self-reported knowledge about the environmental problems. A large proportion of the adults do not consider themselves informed about the environmental problems and among those who do, the people who find themselves generally informed are majorities. The environmental knowledge positively affects both the environmental concern and the predisposition for green consumption.
Keywords: environmental knowledge; green attitudes; green consumption; sustainability; environmental concern; consumer behaviour
KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT GREEN CONSUMPTION IN BULGARIA
Borislava Stoimenova
Abstract: This paper examines the environmental knowledge of the Bulgarians and its relationship with the environmental concern and the predisposition to compromise as two commonly studied attitudes towards green consumption. A quota sample (quotas for age and gender) of 2018 adults from all the regions in Bulgaria is used. The research tool for face-to-face interviews and online surveys is a structured interview. Descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests for difference of means between two independent samples, the correlation analysis (chi-square test for independence) and the cluster analysis (K-means cluster) are the methods applied for the analysis. The results indicate that the Bulgarians are moderately knowledgeable about the environmental problems and the depth of knowledge is moderate as well. The environmental knowledge differs between different demographic groups: the better educated, younger, those living in the cities and wealthier people have better self-reported knowledge about the environmental problems. A large proportion of the adults do not consider themselves informed about the environmental problems and among those who do, the people who find themselves generally informed are majorities. The environmental knowledge positively affects both the environmental concern and the predisposition for green consumption.
Keywords: environmental knowledge; green attitudes; green consumption; sustainability; environmental concern; consumer behaviour
