THE SPATIAL DIMENSION OF ENVIRONMENT-RELATED ATTITUDES: DOES URBAN OR RURAL ORIGIN MATTER?

Maria GOULA

Environmental Education Centre of Makrinitsa, Greece
airamgl@yahoo.gr

Christos Ap. LADIAS

Panteion University, Department of Economic and Regional Development, Athens, Greece,
caladias@otenet.gr

Olga GIOTI-PAPADAKI

Panteion University, Department of Economic and Regional Development, Athens, Greece,
opapadak5@gmail.com

Nikolaos HASANAGAS

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Forest Administration, Forest Office of Pertouli, Greece
n.hasanagas@gmail.com

Abstract

Aim of this research is to analyze the role of the urban or rural origin of students in their environment-related attitudes. Standardized questionnaires were completed by 315 students of environment-related departments (Forestry, Farming Enterprise Management, Crop Production and Landscape Architecture), originating from various villages, towns and cities of Greece. The research was conducted from 2007 to 2013. Spearman test (bivariate correlation) was used and in-depth interviews were conducted. The following results have derived: The environmental profiles (more anthropocentric or eco-centric) as well as the susceptibility to hunting do not depend on the origin. The organized involvement in environment-related issues (participation in associations) is more restricted in rural-originated interviewees. They latter also present a greater tendency to abuse animals than the urban-originated students. Interviewees of both urban and rural origin appear to be similarly receptive (or critical) to the institutional necessity of the Ministry of Environment. Urban interviewees are more familiar with certain environmental policy concepts (e.g. “environmental education”, “biodiversity problem”) while rural-originated students are less receptive (or more deconstructive) to these. The perception of naturalness appears to be quite independent of the origin. The attractiveness of certain environmental elements is differentiated between urban- and rural-originated students, depending on either the feeling of familiarity or on the need of escaping from anxiety or monotony. The way of familiarization with the notion of “forest” does not markedly differ between rural- and urban-originated interviewees (the urban-originated ones are more influenced by comics). Rural-originated students tend to consider their study as a practical training while urban students as a science, mainly focusing on physico-biological subjects. Issues such as the propagandistic instrumentalization of the notion of “environmental problem”, the deconstructive or defensive discourse toward “environmental issues”, perception of landscape, in-situ experience, and universal aesthetic values in relation to origin are discussed.

Keywords: environmental attitudes, family-related and region-related origin, environmental education

JEL classification: Q5, R2
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CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ALGERIAN STRATEGY FOR LOCAL WASTE MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF THE PROVINCE OF TIZI-OUZOU

Arezki CHENANE

Maître assistant, Faculté des sciences Economiques, Commerciales et des Sciences de Gestion, UMMTO
chenanearezki@gmail.com

Lamara HADJOU

Maître de conférences, Faculté des Sciences Economiques, Commerciales et des Sciences de Gestion, UMMTO
lhadjou@yahoo.fr

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an assessment of the Algerian policy of local waste management. Through a series of semi-direct interviews with a number of local actors (politicians, mayors, development agents) in three of the largest municipalities (local authority) of the province of Tizi-ouzou, we looked, first to analyze the degree of the efficiency of local policies and secondly, to provide a measure of the costs of the local waste management. Bottlenecks at the local level as well as at the national level are highlighted. Our research attempts, in the last point, to identify two possible ways of improving the local waste management through inter-municipal cooperation and rationalization of waste management costs.

Keywords: environment, local management, waste, Algeria

JEL classification: H7, Q5, O2
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THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITY ON STUDENTS MONEY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Antoneta POLO

University “Eqrem Cabej”
antoneta_polo@yahoo.com

Dorjana NANO

University “Eqrem Cabej”
nano.dori@yahoo.com

Abstract

Students financial behaviour has been on focus of many academics and practicioners for decades. Reseachers have found that students do not take healthy financial decisions. One of the factors revelead to influence students money management practices is school. The financial knowledge and training gained during university studies is supposed to equip students with the neccessary knowledge and attitude towards financial issues. This is translated in better financial behavior. The current research aims to explore the role of universities on students financial behavior. The main objectives of the paper are: i) firstly to investigate on the importance of school on students money management practices; ii) secondly, provide a literature review on students financial skills and behavior; iii) thirdly, to identify the role of universities in students financial behavior in the case of Albania; and iv) finally, to draw some conclusions and policy recommandations for universities in order to improve their curriculas and help students to be wise consumator. The main research questions raised in this research are: 1) Do Albanian students percept school as their primary source of gaining financial knowledge? 2) Do Albanian universities play their role optimally on equipping students with the best skills on money management?

This study is based on a survey conducted on 637 students from different universities accross Albania. Descriptive statistics, Tukey Post Hoc technique and analyse of variance are utilized to address the research questions. Statistics demostrates students to consider school as the most important source of gaining financial knowledge. Although this result, university is exposed to not play its best role on helping students establishing good financial habits. This research suggest universities to include a modul in personal finances in their curriculas and making them more practical and effective. This is incredeably important since managing personal finances is a matter that last forever. Future studies can be conducted to examine the effectviness of universities curriculas on students life. In addition, further researches can be undertaken in order to identified other factors impacting students financial behavior.

Keywords: Students Money Management, University.

JEL classification: A2
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