No abstract

No abstract

In the last decade, tourism activity associated with natural areas has stood out as a driver for economic development. Thus, it is a key factor for the economic and social sustainability of the community near a protected area. This paper analyses, considering the tourist exploitation and the public use of the National Park in the last decade, the perception about the sustainability of its geographical area closest. A questionnaire was used and sent to the authorities of the villages closest to each of the 15 National Parks. The structural equation model was used for the design and analysis of the model. The results confirmed significant relationships between the perception of economic development and quality of life, but not with social development. A positive relationship between quality of life and social development is also demonstrated. The three dimensions analysed, economic, social and quality of life, are influencing the perception of sustainability of the geographical area closest to the protected natural area. The legal limitations to the public use of these natural protected areas have been considered in the assessments made by the respondents. In conclusion, National Park managers, local entrepreneurs and institutional authorities (local, regional and national) are encouraged to better coordinate the resources of the protected natural area. The dynamization of tourist activities should be encouraged while respecting the biological value of the park, as has been done so far.

In recent years, a new line of research, named eco-efficiency theory has become an issue of considerable interest. The most important works in relation with this topic focus on the fact that enterprises can maximize their economic benefits and minimize the impact on the environment at the same time. Therefore, the recommendation is to choose the so called strategy win-win, which allows for getting a double economic environmental benefit by means of a good management of productive resources, the rationalization of consumption and the right treatment of generated outputs. In this study it was used a sample of 122 firms from different sectors which belong to Dow Jones Responsibility Index Europe for the years 2007 through 2009. The objective is to show that the firms with the best environmental performances during this period also obtained the largest economic and financial benefits. Therefore, the investments done in order to improve the environmental performance can be a good incentive for these companies.

Feed-in tariff policies have been the most common and effective tool contributing towards the important growth in photovoltaic solar energy in Europe. The purpose of this study is to analyze their influence on the economic profitability of photovoltaic companies operating in the most characteristic regions, Germany, Italy, France and Spain in the period 2008–2012. Variables characterizing these companies are also included. Regarding the method, a static linear panel data model is used. The results show how feed-in tariffs (FITs henceforth) have in fact had a significant positive influence on the economic profitability of these companies. In addition, the findings suggest that the expansion of these companies in terms of assets implies increased competition in the sector, positively influencing their profitability given the economies of scale generated. Moreover, contrary to expectations, photovoltaic companies with the highest leverage ratios are those with the largest return on investment in the analyzed period, what could be a consequence of their higher possibilities of investing the obtained external funds on PV technology.