Empirical evaluation of preferences by ecological factors of individual welfare of Ukrainians

Abstract

Based on polling of citizens of different age groups living in Kyiv, Ternopil, Donetsk, Sumy, Zaporizhia, Poltava and Volyn regions of Ukraine, we tested the hypothesis thatthere is alow demand for the public good « a clean environment». We found that 60% of citizens are not satisfied with the level of awareness about the ecological situation in their places of residence, and that the Internet is the main source of information for respondents under 45 years old, while for the older generation its place is taken by TV. In general, young people are ready to engage in solving environmental problems and are well informed about the existence of international environmental organizations and movements. Up to 90% of the population is concerned about the threat of the global environmental crisis, and as the main threats they named transport and industry. Approximately 80% of citizens recognize ecology as a public good, but more than 90% are skeptical of the authorities’ actions regarding the resolution of environmental problems, and more than 40% of citizens believe that the environmental situation in their places of residence has deteriorated in recent years. Up to 80% of the respondents consider it appropriate to invest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but only 9% of respondents are ready to make a significant personal contribution to this. The vast majority of the population is ready to make contributions of not more than 1% of income to ensure a high quality environment, and only 35% of respondents are trying to buy environmentally friendly products. In general, the study confirms the hypothesis that there is a low level of demandamong Ukrainian citizens for environmentally friendly products and a clean environment. We can explain this situation by the existence of numerous unsolved socio-economic problems of the domestic economy.