Individual Values and the Self-assessment of Environment-Economy Trade-off in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate the multifaceted factors influencing pro-environmental sentiments in contrast to pro-economic attitudes in Turkey. Utilizing the data set from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey (2017-2022), logistic regression results reveal that the negative age-pro-environment nexus undergoes a reversal after the inflection point. Pro-environmental attitudes are intricately linked with indicators of prosperity, including income and urbanization, as well as socio-cultural factors such as religion and nationalism. While education emerges as a significant determinant in high-income and institutionally developed countries, its statistical insignificance in Turkey highlights unique socio-cultural dynamics and insufficiency of the education system. These findings offer valuable insights into environmental consciousness, identifying the most effective values that policy interventions should prioritize for sustainable development.