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Exploring the Role of the Economy in Young Adults’ Understanding of Sustainable Development

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  • Teresa Berglund

    (Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Universitetsgatan 2, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden)

  • Niklas Gericke

    (Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Universitetsgatan 2, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden)

Abstract

The economic dimension is one of the central perspectives in both sustainable development and education for sustainable development. The role of the economy in sustainable development has been discussed extensively over the years and different views exist about how economic activities affect other sustainability dimensions. How young people view the relationships among economic perspectives and sustainable development seems to be an underemphasized perspective in sustainability education and underexplored in the field of sustainability education research. This study uses cluster analysis, which is an explorative approach, to identify and analyze young peoples’ views of the relationships between economic growth, economic development and sustainable development. Six hundred and thirty eight students (age 18–19) from 15 schools across Sweden responded to a questionnaire probing (1) views on these relationships, and (2) their environmental consciousness. Four clusters of students differing in their views on the economy in sustainable development were identified in the analysis: un-differentiating positive, nuanced ambivalent, two-way convinced, and critical. Further analysis indicated that some groups differed in their perception of the environmental dimension of sustainable development. Implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of education for sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Berglund & Niklas Gericke, 2018. "Exploring the Role of the Economy in Young Adults’ Understanding of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2738-:d:161735
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jan Fazlagić & Elżbieta Izabela Szczepankiewicz, 2020. "The Role of Local Governments in Supporting Creative Industries—A Conceptual Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Attila Lengyel & Sándor Kovács & Anetta Müller & Lóránt Dávid & Szilvia Szőke & Éva Bácsné Bába, 2019. "Sustainability and Subjective Well-Being: How Students Weigh Dimensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Matthias Kowasch & Joana P. Cruz & Pedro Reis & Niklas Gericke & Katharina Kicker, 2021. "Climate Youth Activism Initiatives: Motivations and Aims, and the Potential to Integrate Climate Activism into ESD and Transformative Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Teresa Berglund & Niklas Gericke & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Daniel Olsson & Tzu-Chau Chang, 2020. "A cross-cultural comparative study of sustainability consciousness between students in Taiwan and Sweden," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6287-6313, October.
    5. Tomaselli, Maria Fernanda & Sheppard, Stephen R.J. & Kozak, Robert & Gifford, Robert, 2019. "What do Canadians think about economic growth, prosperity and the environment?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 41-49.

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