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Migration processes pose important social problems and demand appropriate integration policies. With this perspective in mind, the present study investigates native residents’ opinion on the contribution of immigrants to urban economy in Athens, Greece, using a self-reported questionnaire submitted to a convenience sample of 446 native residents 18+ years old. In spite of the current economic crisis, mixed responses were recorded about the extent Greek government should allow new immigrants to come, live and work in the country. Conversely, citizens’ opinions were rather homogeneous and negative when speaking about the state benefits granted to immigrants. Respondents who believe that, in the near future, a high (and possibly increasing) number of immigrants should be allowed to live, and work in Greece, demonstrated to be fully aware of the importance of integration policies. By contrast, in line with the ‘secular’ role of families permeating the Greek society, married people were more inclined to refuse any policy of immigrants’ integration compared to single people. Future research should emphasize how institutions, national/local policies, and contextual aspects including ethnic networks, social capital, and labor market conditions, may influence immigrant integration in traditional, Mediterranean societies.

This paper examines the critical role of Mega Infrastructure Projects in sustainable urban and peripheral development by presenting a Sustainable Infrastructure Serum Analysis supported by primary field research. In the Athens Metro case study, we examined the project's impact on sustainable development by analysing the opinions of the project's users. As a result, the Athens Metro serves as a case study to help us better understand sustainable infrastructure as a framework for green growth from the standpoint of society. The three pillars of sustainable development are inextricably linked. This study focuses on the social comprehension and acceptance of a Mega Infrastructure Project effects. We attempt to demonstrate the interdependence of the three pillars of sustainable development through public opinion responses to our research by developing a statistical model fed by public responses to a prototype questionnaire that we developed to support our research objectives. The study's findings highlighted the project's social acceptability and necessity by establishing a direct positive correlation between sustainability, society, the economy, and the environment from the standpoint of society.

The organization of space and working time, especially their location and geography, is a significant concern to researchers and politicians. However, in today's globalized economy and online age, the way we work and the workplace's whole location and geography are being redefined and researched. This paper investigates the current situation of co-working spaces in Greece, and the authors further analyse the case study of the Athens municipality. They examined views on new workplaces satisfaction and the benefits of the location. The research also explored the factors influencing ‘co-working spaces' satisfaction and views on the location's benefits. Finally, there is a detailed record of the areas in question throughout the territory, and they are scattered and concentrated in certain areas. Their characteristics are then explored, and policies and actions are proposed for their operation and development in the post-COVID-19 era.

The present paper first investigates the penetration of Green Public Procurement in the Greek reality and then how Green Public Procurement functions as a tool for the transition from the linear to a circular economy model. To serve this purpose, a questionnaire was structured with a total of 38 questions. The Municipalities formed by the “Kallikratis” programme, were selected as a sample, which enter into contracts with Green Public Procurement for a wide range of goods and services. The majority of the questions gave the possibility to choose from the specific number of specific answers at a time, while some of them required the writing of an answer by the respondent himself. For the drafting of the questions, the most important elements related to the subject of Green Public Procurement were taken into account. As far as their structure is concerned, it was the result of the overall research carried out in the Greek and foreign annotated bibliography, while data were also drawn from questions of a similar nature that were altered from time to time in the field of Green Public Procurement. A very brief introduction to the conceptual approach to Green Public Procurement was also included in the structure of the questionnaire. Therefore, the respondent had the opportunity, in a very short period of time, to understand the subject of the investigation and to answer the questions that followed or to send the questionnaire to the relevant Municipal Department.

Development in the sense of growth under pure economic perspective is now considered outdated and anachronistic. In recent years, if not decades, development is only meant to be sustainable. This is due to the fact that if it does not become sustainable it will soon cease to exist. In this regard, there have been attempts to measure development and sustainability mainly by the United Nations but also by many scholars. This process resulted in the construction of 50 main and 46 secondary indicators for sustainable development in 2007, which differ from the indicators that determine the percentage of achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as set in 2015. In this paper, an attempt is made to categorize the 96 Sustainable Development indicators of the U.N. according to Maslow's pyramid of needs and Bossel's indicator categories. This combination forms the pyramid of sustainable development in which the individual indicators are distributed. The purpose of this categorization is to investigate the contribution of sports tourism to sustainable development based on the individual indicators as well as its extent within the categories of the pyramid. Schematically, the pyramid helps to visualize the contribution of sport and tourism to sustainable development. From the correlation of the above, it indeed emerges that there is a relationship between the elements of sports tourism (sport and tourism) and the indicators of sustainable development. In particular, the literature review and the correlation of the specific indicators show the contribution of sports and tourism to 12 of the 96 indicators of sustainable development or 12.5%. Correspondingly, tourism and sports respectively present a degree of contribution towards 8 of the 17 goals (47%) for sustainable development in 2030.

The object of the research is to highlight the water areas, creating a cultural network in the Peloponnese peninsula. What are the tools to approach a landscape that can help interpret, read, and manage a site? The research methodology was based on geographical features and the selection of sections on the map, linking them to create a cultural network model. Due to the large and rich diversity of water bodies, it was deemed necessary to select five different water landscapes in four different prefectures of the peninsula, looking for different-characteristic forms of water. The Anavalos wetland in Argolida, the river Ladonas in Arcadia, the springs of Lerni in Argolida, the lake Stymfalia and Doxa in Corinth and the Stygos Waters in Achaia were selected as case studies. Through this process, a complete picture emerged in all networking sites. The interviews and personal contacts with the competent social bodies resulted in a comprehensive and more substantial understanding of the issue. Also important was the creation of a questionnaire-experiment, which took place in the Peloponnese, giving very important results-conclusions about the knowledge-views, residents-citizens, the peninsula and the relationship-contact they have with wetlands and their knowledge in relation to mythology. Water has the potential to gain social and political weight, to bring the citizen face to face with the responsibility he has, to manage the environment with respect and consistency, to discover it, if he utilizes it and finally to highlight it as a model of sustainable development.

Ownership structure is a crucial determinant factor of the corporate governance measurement and has been associated, in prior studies, with the profitability of firms. The current study investigates the effect of ownership structure on the firm's performance in the period of financial crisis. The authors focus on the food and beverage (F&B) industry since this sector has been affected less than others by the economic recession. Exploring the listed F&B beverage in the Athens Stock Exchange for seven years during the crisis period in Greece, the authors have found evidence for the effect of ownership structure on firm performance as it has been reflected in the accounting and financial market indicators. The findings for the relation between ownership structure and firms' performance, measured with accounting indices, are different from those in which the performance has been measured with market indices.

A safe and healthy working environment is vital for overall sustainability, due to the fact that it affects opportunities of economic and social development. However, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), despite the international commitment to Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) via the 2030’s Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), work-related accidents are still far too common. Work-related mortality accounts for 5% of all deaths worldwide; a toll which has increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, in the context of COVID-19, new demands on the labour market, such as teleworking, adequate protective measures, and proper use of personal protective equipment when physical presence cannot be avoided, are necessitating new approaches to ensure health and safety. Arguably, education can be viewed as a cross-cutting strategy in advance of a culture of safety for future generations, through strengthening skills and broadening knowledge. Indeed, even though education cannot be considered a panacea, related to SDG 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, it can be considered a critical component to deal with OSH issues using a preventive, rather than a reactive, approach. Given this fact, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has stressed the prevention approach through mainstreaming OSH in education at all levels, and in all fields of vocational and academic training. Aware of the potential of universities to provide graduates the broad-based knowledge to produce labour-market skills including OSH, the aim of this study is to contribute to the discussion on mainstreaming OSH into Greek university education, using Harokopio University (HUA) as a case study. For this purpose, a web-based survey was conducted to address HUA’s students, faculty members, and staff OSH knowledge, risks awareness, and attitudes, as well as their perceptions, opinions, and beliefs about the role of OSH for academia. A statistical analysis depicted respondents’ high level of willingness to contribute to the promotion of OSH, while additional evidence suggests a considerable commitment of the respondents to participate in HUA’s OSH-related training and education.

There is robust evidence that homelessness and the associated life conditions of a homeless person may cause and exacerbate a wide range of health problems, while healthcare for the homeless is simultaneously limited in accessibility, availability, and appropriateness. This article investigates legal frameworks of health care provision, existing knowledge on numbers of homeless to be considered, and current means of health care provision for four EU countries with different economic and public health background: Austria, Greece, Poland, and Romania. National experts investigated the respective regulations and practices in place with desk research. The results show differences in national frameworks of inclusion into health care provision and knowledge on the number of people experiencing homelessness, but high similarity when it comes to main actors of actual health care provision for homeless populations. In all included countries, despite their differences in economic investments and universality of access to public health systems, it is mainly NGOs providing health care to those experiencing homelessness. This phenomenon fits into conceptual frameworks developed around service provision for vulnerable population groups, wherein it has been described as &ldquo, structural compensation,&rdquo, meaning that NGOs compensate a structural inappropriateness that can be observed within public health systems.

Nowadays the majority of coastal urban areas facing issues concerning economic growth in combination with environmental protection. These challenges have led local authorities to take immediate measures as well as the European Union to formulate new policies. This study refers to the environmental problems of the coastal urban area of Kallithea and on the measures that have been taken in response. Specifically, it focuses on land uses, natural resources and business. To conduct this study a method of personal interviews with the local authorities and an in situ research took place. At the same time, the survey focuses on action and policies that have been implemented until now regarding growth and improving of the quality of life. The results showed despite the problems the research area presents, it has dynamics for growth developments and revitalization. The implementation of new measures and new policies under the frame of sustainable development, taking into account the directives of European Union, is required.

This study’s aim is mainly to provide insights into the factors that affect sustainable tourism entrepreneurs’ behavioural intentions, employing data from Greece. Given that intention is a powerful predictor of actual behaviour, to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurial activity in the tourism sector and achieve sustainable development, it is important to study the factors that affect entrepreneur’s behavioural intentions towards sustainability. Findings through this empirical analysis support that entrepreneur’s demographics parameters and firm characteristics have distinctive effects in explaining respondents’ behaviour towards sustainable entrepreneurship and acknowledgement of sustainability options of a community. In particular, results suggest that younger entrepreneurs are probably more informed about the potential of the sustainability for the regions and are more likely to favour sustainable tourism practices. Entrepreneur’s income is also a statistical significant parameter towards sustainable entrepreneurship intentions within the tourism sector. Finally, entrepreneurs reported as important for the promotion of tourism sustainability the creation of knowledge networks and websites to focus on sustainable business and the promotion of environmental labels and certified management systems in tourism businesses.

Purpose of the present paper is to investigate the evolution of the economic situation and particularly employment in Attica region in Greece. It focuses particularly on the southern coastal municipalities in the region and specifically in municipalities of Moshato, Kallithea, Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Elliniko, Voula and Vouliagmeni. Attica is an urbanized region which displays an excellence in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. In addition, it is a center of advanced services with valuable human resources because of higher educational institutions hosted in the region. That means a dynamic development of high technology. The good economic situation of the study area changed in recent years, from 2009 onwards, due to the economic crisis in Greece. The poor fiscal policy resulted in swelling of the external debt of the country, has contributed not only to the economic downturn, but has also affected the welfare of residents. The economic effects are obvious in the private sector, thereby reducing business activities, revenues and lost jobs. All the above have additional effect of increasing intra-regional disparities, such as population disparities, rising unemployment, the population movements for job search and other. The paper elaborates on the economic situation and entrepreneurship in the region over the past 20 years or so including both periods of acne, and those of the last economic downturn. Using documents, tables and graphs, work draws conclusions.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the determinant factors of recycling and in particular of paper recycling. The research focuses on paper recycling behavior on the part of the elderly in the Region of Attica. Primary research was based on the use of layered data. The survey data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to senior citizens in the municipalities of Egaleo and Chaidari. The questionnaire was distributed by hand in the region’s O.C.C. (Open Care Centers) for the Elderly Staff Members during the period from November 2017 until February 2018 (11/2017-02/2018). The final sample of the survey amounted to 375 participants. Multiple logistic regressions generate useful conclusions, such as whether participants recycle paper or not appear to be linked to the educational level of the elderly. In addition, through the logistic regressions, it appears that intention to recycle affects significantly the behaviour towards, recycling, and the perceived behavioural control as well. Furthermore, including social and demographic data, it appears that the educational level, monthly family income and residential status are factors that affect whether the participants are recycling paper or not.

A comparative study of two Greek cities, Chania and Kalamata, has been conducted regarding their creative potential. The cities are similar in many ways, i.e. regarding climate, goods produced, dependence on tourism etc, yet their cultural capital has been created through different patterns, and also identity formation of local societies has been built on different foundations. Cultural policies of the municipalities have also been oriented to different goals. Municipality of Kalamata has launched an all-encompassing cultural campaign, having dance as its spearhead. On the other hand, municipality of Chania, while offering an integrated cultural program in summer, it focuses more on letters and local history. Since promotion of arts has been hindered due to austerity measures, municipalities had to re-orient their strategy according to the new unfavorable developments. Despite their rich cultural capital, it is questionable whether these cities could be designated as “creative” according to Florida’s criteria, mainly because of the tight bonding ties of local societies.

This study investigates the status of female entrepreneurs in the Greek countryside as formed in the recent years owed to the emergence of agritourism. Agritourism has provided opportunities for additional income in localities through the utilization of knowledge of traditional customs, recipes, folk art. Women entrepreneurs in the sector often function within a context of adverse circumstances, pertaining to their multiple responsibilities at home and at work. Organization of women in producers’ cooperatives has facilitated their endeavor with regard to commitment, mutual support and pooling knowledge. On the other hand, major obstacles include lack of management education and insufficient marketing of local products. Even though status of women has been upgraded to an extent due to their additional contribution to the family income, conservative stereotypes about their role remain still intact in the countryside.

The present study investigated the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance. The study sample was composed of 124 listed companies in the Athens Stock Exchange during the period 2006–2012. Firm financial performance was measured by return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), return on sales (ROS) and earnings per share (EPS). Information was extracted from the balance sheets of the companies. We used repeated measurement analysis to analyze the data. A linear mixed model was run to determine whether the CSR had an effect on financial performance and whether this effect was dependent on the Wider Section that companies were classified. The analysis showed that there is significant evidence for concluding association between CSR and financial performance.

Coastal urban areas face a number of environmental problems. They have implemented policies for solving these problems, which aimed at sustainable development and the general quality of life of residents. In the context of sustainable development of urban centers, the European Policy has exercised great influence through European projects and other actions.This research refers to the coastal urban area of Vouliagmeni in Attica region. Specifically, companies, tourism development, projects and actions that have been carried out for the sustainable development of the area as well as the measures of environmental protection are investigated. To conduct this study a method of personal interviews with the local authorities and an in situ research took place.The results showed that Vouliagmeni has considerable natural resources as well as a number of economic and environmental problems. As a result, the natural resources threatened by degradation. The major economic problems that the country has faced over the past few years, have affected to some extent the projects and actions of local authorities, which aimed at the coastal area management, at further development and general protection. The adjustment of the local community to new economic situation is necessary to ensure the sustainable development of the area.

The present study examined how community development has been affected by social and economic changes in four specifi c semi rural areas which are located in the east prefecture of Attica in Greece. These semi rural areas are affected signifi cantly by social and economic changes, because of substantial new infrastructure development that took place in relation to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games of Athens. The aim of this study was to examine local entrepreneurship as well as local social and economic development in the study areas. Sample data were collected on the characteristics of residents and local enterprises and land use changes in these four areas of Attica. On the basis of these data a profi le of the residents and the characteristics of land use and local enterprises were constructed. The results of the study showed that there has been a substantial population increase and real estate construction. Also, residential land has increased at the expense of farmland. Furthermore, new enterprises are founded through private investments, which increase local entrepreneurship. Using cross-tabulation statistical methods it was found that the educational level of the responders is positively related with the occupation satisfaction (P = 0.0345). Also, the more an area was developed the more pharmacies existed in the specifi c area (P = 0.0437) and the closest an area was from the sea the more tourist character it had (P = 0.0000). In addition, the analysis of the logistic regression models showed that as private investment and urban planning increase local development increases, while as population density increases local development decreases (R = 81.2%). Furthermore, the more social services exist in a community such as help at home, shelter for elderly and there are more chances for employment then local sustainable development is increased In addition, as the number of homeless people increases local sustainable development decreases. (R = 80.2%). Also, Kruskal‐Wallis H - tests were performed for the comparison of the four areas concerning demographical and residential elements as well as development elements, which showed that the opinion of the respondents from all four areas is similar as regards quality of life and job satisfaction at a = 1% signifi cance level.

Problem statement: Demographic changes have increased the social and cultural diversity of tourist areas with historical heritage and natural beauty in Greece, causing an expansion in the cultural and economic horizons of local people and producing at the same time conflicts in their interests, values and lifestyles. This research was focused in the concept of sustainable development in three areas in south Greece, in order to examine if tourist development can cause a danger for human values and natural environment. Approach: Three municipalities of southern Peloponnese in Greece namely Koroni, Methoni and Pilos were selected for the study. These three municipalities were selected because they constitute regions of common historical heritage, big natural beauty and high environmental importance. By using empirical social research methods, sample data of 120 questionnaires were collected on the characteristics of residents and local enterprises and land use changes in these areas. Results: The main employment is farming (24%), even though that residential land had increased at the expense of farmland. Local residents in the public or private sector supplement their low income with agricultural or tourist activities (67%). Therefore, new enterprises were found through private investments, which increase the local entrepreneurship (42%). In addition, the analysis of the multiple regression models showed that local development increases in places with more chances for employment. Also, among areas with the same cultural development those with better infrastructure were expected to have more sustainable development (6 units of difference) than those areas with worse infrastructure. Conclusion: Development of soft tourism, organic farming and better infrastructure could enhance sustainable development in tourist areas with historical heritage, big natural beauty and high environmental importance.

This research aims at examining how an agritourism cooperative and its activities promote endogenous development using local human, natural and technological resources in a sustainable way with other local production activities. Technology allows the agritourism cooperative to effectively use local resources and simultaneously to increase its competitiveness in marketing of products. So, the cooperative becomes more competitive in regional and national markets and its economy is connected more closely with the national and international economy.

The present paper deals with the energy performance, energy classification and rating and the global environmental quality of school buildings. A new energy classification technique based on intelligent clustering methodologies is proposed. Energy rating of school buildings provides specific information on their energy consumption and efficiency relative to the other buildings of similar nature and permits a better planning of interventions to improve its energy performance. The overall work reported in the present paper, is carried out in three phases. During the first phase energy consumption data have been collected through energy surveys performed in 320 schools in Greece. In the second phase an innovative energy rating scheme based on fuzzy clustering techniques has been developed, while in the third phase, 10 schools have been selected and detailed measurements of their energy efficiency and performance as well as of the global environmental quality have been performed using a specific experimental protocol. The proposed energy rating method has been applied while the main environmental and energy problems have been identified. The potential for energy and environmental improvements has been assessed.

In the present essay the objective is to investigate consumer's attitude towards the recycling of printed paper. As a case of study the Municipality of Aigaleo in Greece was chosen. For the purposes of this research bothbibliographic, as well as primary empirical research was conducted. The primary research was based on the use cross layer data, which came from a questionnaire that was distributed to 355 residents of the municipality of Aigaleo. The research revealed that certain factors do influence the behavior of the citizens of the municipality of Aigaleo regarding recycling. More specifically, the net monthly income, the level of awareness among citizens on environmental issues, their knowledge of the use of blue garbage bins, their motivation towards their family and friendly environment to participate in recycling and the economic incentives are statistically significant defining factors of recycling. Regarding the factors that affect the frequency of recycling by the citizens, the results showed that the net monthly family income and the participation in voluntary programs so as to improve recycling are statistically significant defining factors of the frequency of recycling. Also, the attitude of the citizens to recycle aluminium positively affects the frequency of recycling.

This article aims to demonstrate rural tourism as an alternative form of development in Greece, since it is connected with agricultural production and the cultural environment of rural areas. It focuses on the Greek countryside, attempting a short diachronic mapping of development laws. With a simple example, this article encourages unemployed young people of the Greek cities to move to the countryside, and provided that they are given proper education and training, to work on agricultural cultivation and focus on Agrotourism, with the aim to increase their low income. The basic source of knowledge is derived from personal experiences, but has alsobeen based on Greek and international literature.

Das Produktionssystem einer Volkswirtschaft und die allgemeine Entwicklung einer Region stehen eng mit der Bildung im zusammenhing. In den letzten Jahren und aus diesem Grund, gibt es Interesse an der Rolle der Hochschulbildung sowohl in der Entwicklung der Volkswirtschaften als auch in der Entwicklung von einzelnen Raumeinheiten. Die Auswirkungen aus dem Betrieb von einer Hochschuleinrichtung (H) können sich methodisch in zwei Kategorien unterscheiden. Die erste Kategorie betrifft die wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen und beinhaltet Direkte und indirekte Auswirkungen, die sich aus ihrem Betrieb in erster Linie auf die Betriebskosten geschaffen werden, wie auch aus den Ausgaben von Studenten und Besucher, während die zweite die Auswirkungen von der Schöpfung und der Verbreitung von Wissen betrifft, wie beispielsweise die Schaffung von Humankapital und bei der Verstärkung der Wissensökonomie. In der gegenwärtigen Forschung versucht man, die Rolle der Hochschulbildung in der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung der gr

The purpose of this study is the contribution of photovoltaic systems to the Sustainable Development of the region of Thessaly in Greece. The aim is to explore both the potential for further installation of PV systems in the region and to record the opinions, knowledge and attitudes of residents about them. To document the theoretical data was carried out fieldwork using questionnaires given to a sample of 200 residents of the region of Thessaly. The work attempts to clarify the term "Sustainable Development" and what are the factors that contribute to it. The advantages and disadvantages of PV systems and the European policy that is followed in Greece for them, are recorded. The work focuses on solar rooftops and special attention is given to the advantages and disadvantages of solar roofs. The search area is studied and the general characteristics are given. The research, the results of statistical analysis and the X test for independence are described. In this way, we are given the possibility to approach the degree to which citizens are informed and sensitized on the issues of photovoltaics. In the last part of the study the results of statistical analysis are commented, the conclusions are recorded and proposals are formulated to improve the current situation and further spread and use of photovoltaic parks and solar roofs in the region of Thessaly.