Environmental protection versus economic growth: Determinants of individual preference

Abstract The choice between protecting the environment and accelerating economic growth is conditioned by factors pertaining to individual and to political and economic dimensions. This study aims to investigate how those factors influence the preference for environmental protection rather than for economic growth. The findings obtained suggest that a favourable political and economic environment increases the chance of choosing environmental protection. The populations of countries with a higher GDP per capita and a well‐established democratic regime are more likely to protect the environment. Likewise, women, young people and more educated people are the demographic groups most likely to choose environmental protection.