Search Results (1,679)

Autonomous mobility is reshaping how travel time is perceived, experienced, and monetised. Most existing studies have examined the value of time (VOT), willingness to pay (WTP), comfort and safety perception, digital services, and user perception as isolated phenomena, with limited efforts to integrate these dimensions into unified analytical frameworks. This study aims to address the fragmented nature of existing research by developing an integrated understanding of user behaviour in autonomous mobility, linking VOT, WTP, psychological constructs, and service-related factors within a unified analytical perspective. A systematic review methodology following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was applied. A total of 81 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2026 were included and analysed, focusing on Private Autonomous Vehicles (PAVs) and Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs). The results reveal three main trends. First, autonomous travel introduces greater flexibility in time use and enables productive or leisure activities during travel. Second, behavioural aspects of VOT and WTP are strongly influenced by psychological constructs such as trust, safety, and risk perception. Third, notable differences emerge between PAV and SAV contexts, particularly in terms of comfort, control, and safety perception. The literature predominantly employs stated preference surveys, discrete choice models, and hybrid models incorporating psychological factors. However, fragmentation persists in modelling behavioural aspects of time perception and shared mobility services. This study provides a structured synthesis of existing evidence and highlights key research gaps by integrating economic, psychological, and service-related dimensions. The findings emphasise the importance of context-specific and psychologically informed modelling approaches to better understand user acceptance and behavioural adaptation in autonomous mobility systems. Full article

Given the increasing relevance of sustainability certification in food supply chains and, at the same time, rising confusion among consumers about the multitude of labels on food products, concerns about the value of sustainability certification occur frequently. This paper aims to investigate consumers’ evaluation and purchase intentions, and willingness-to-pay (WtP) for blockchain-enabled sustainability certification in coffee. Utilizing a questionnaire guided by an extended model of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB), an online survey was conducted with n = 400 German consumers. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and cluster analysis. The results revealed perceived behavioral control (PBC) and subjective norms (SN) as the most influential factors on WtP, whereas intention to buy is shaped by PBC and environmental concerns. Notably, trust in blockchain technology did not emerge as a significant direct predictor, suggesting it operates as a background condition rather than a behavioral driver. Three distinct clusters were identified with concise preference, intention, and WtP profiles, highlighting heterogeneous consumer motivations. The study contributes to the literature in three ways: it provides the first consumer-behavioral evidence from the German market; it demonstrates that blockchain-specific trust constructs do not constitute independent behavioral drivers, suggesting that adoption follows generic TPB mechanisms; and it empirically differentiates intention and WtP as distinct psychological outcomes driven by different construct sets. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer, largely attributable to persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), remains a major public health burden worldwide, including in Kazakhstan, where limited screening coverage and low public awareness contribute to substantial incidence and mortality. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness and epidemiological impact of a nationwide HPV vaccination programme for 10-year-old girls in Kazakhstan using the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine. Methods: A 10-year modelling analysis (2025–2035) was conducted using the World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed Universal Vaccination Impact and Cost-Effectiveness Assessment (UNIVAC) tool adapted to Kazakhstan-specific epidemiological and economic parameters. Vaccination coverage was projected at 98.0% for the first dose and 96.5% for the second dose. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted were estimated from governmental and societal perspectives. Sensitivity analyses assessed uncertainty in vaccine coverage, vaccine costs, and epidemiological inputs. Results: Over the 10-year period, the vaccination programme was projected to reduce HPV-related disease cases by 68.2% (from 112,198 to 35,628) and deaths by 68.3% (from 15,921 to 5056), while averting 67,445 DALYs. The ICER was estimated at US$ 533 per DALY averted from the governmental perspective and US$ 1169 from the societal perspective. Projected healthcare cost savings reached US$ 42.8 million, driven largely by reductions in 21,748 hospitalisations and 13,706 outpatient visits. These findings remained robust in probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with the probability of cost-effectiveness increasing as the willingness-to-pay threshold rose. Conclusions: UNIVAC-based modelling suggests that introduction of a national HPV vaccination programme for 10-year-old girls in Kazakhstan using Gardasil-4 could substantially reduce cervical cancer burden and related mortality while generating considerable healthcare savings. These findings support the cost-effectiveness of nationwide HPV vaccination in Kazakhstan. Full article

This study investigates consumer knowledge, perceptions, and purchasing behaviors regarding products with geographical indications and certifications in the Campania region. Traditional Agri-Food Product (PAT) is the regional label used in Italy to identify traditional products whose distribution is so limited that they do not qualify for PDO or PGI designation. In this view, this research examines the diffusion of such products, their economic and sustainability attributes, and alignment with modern objectives, including environmental impact reduction, rural development, and the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. Using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 706 respondents, the study combines descriptive statistics and econometric analysis, trying to identify key factors influencing Willingness to Pay (WTP) for certified products and knowledge of certifications. Findings reveal that education, knowledge of certifications, and lifestyle factors positively affect WTP, highlighting opportunities for targeted marketing and awareness campaigns, also emphasizing critical issues in view of new trade scenarios (e.g., Mercosur agreement) and climate change. Full article

South Korea’s official development assistance to the energy sector has increased steadily over the past decade, reaching USD 232.20 million in 2024. Yet public willingness to pay for renewable energy official development assistance remains largely unknown. This study uses a discrete choice experiment with 1000 nationally representative South Korean respondents and a mixed logit model to estimate marginal willingness to pay for key project attributes, including electrification, greenhouse gas reduction, firm expansion, expert training, and reputation enhancement. The results show that greenhouse gas reduction and expert training receive the highest willingness to pay, followed by firm expansion. Electrification and reputation enhancement receive relatively low support. The findings also reveal substantial preference heterogeneity, with younger and nationally oriented respondents placing greater value on economic returns. These results provide new donor country evidence on public preferences for renewable energy official development assistance and offer policy implications for designing a more climate-focused and socially supported green aid portfolio. Full article

Background: The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased rapidly in pediatric populations. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of pediatric MASLD screening strategies remains limited. Methods: A decision tree combined with a Markov state-transition model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three WHtR-based two-stage screening strategies among children aged 6–14 years in Beijing, China: WHtR combined with ultrasound (S1), WHtR combined with FibroScan^® (S2), and WHtR combined with magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) (S3), compared with no screening (S4). All screening strategies were combined with lifestyle modification programs, including dietary and exercise management. Model inputs were derived from the published literature, national survey data, and expert consensus. Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated from a healthcare system perspective over a 10-year time horizon, with a 3% annual discount rate. Incremental cost–utility ratios (ICURs) were calculated, and extensive one-way, two-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Our model indicated that, at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $30,584.0 per QALY, corresponding to three times the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of China, S2 was identified as the optimal strategy. At a higher WTP threshold of $71,415.5 per QALY, based on the GDP per capita of Beijing, S3 became the most cost-effective option. All three screening strategies were more cost-effective than no screening across both thresholds. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that utility values for fibrosis stages and the response rate of the lifestyle modification program were the most influential parameters, and probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the baseline findings. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first cost-effectiveness analysis for pediatric MASLD in China. Model-based estimates suggest that early screening for MASLD in children using WHtR-based screening strategies is cost-effective, with FibroScan^® preferred in settings with average economic development and MRI-PDFF preferred in more affluent regions. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific implementation of early MASLD screening strategies in pediatric populations to mitigate long-term disease burden. Full article

The Earth’s ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating due to human activities. Habitats are being lost or degraded, and associated wildlife species are declining or becoming extinct at unprecedented rates. The study area, the prefectures of Rodopi and Evros, is a Greek biodiversity hotspot containing degraded habitats, such as forests and wetlands, that are critical for many threatened wildlife species. This situation calls for conserving threatened wildlife habitats, which requires considerable funds. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate willingness to pay (WTP) for wildlife habitat conservation. We conducted personal interviews with residents of the study area, using a sample of 849 citizens from the two regions determined through stratified random sampling design, with equal allocation to the strata. The mean annual WTP per household was estimated at EUR 21.3, yielding a total of EUR 790,000 from households in the study area. Pro-environmental behavior was positively associated with WTP. Females and those with higher household income reported higher WTP than males and those with lower household income. Government agencies were preferred over hunting clubs and environmental NGOs for implementing programs to conserve local wildlife habitats. Findings will be most useful if incorporated into policies to (a) secure the funds necessary to implement wildlife habitat conservation programs in the area and (b) increase transparency and trust between conservation entities and the local community. Full article

To reduce the environmental impact of aviation, airlines are offering Voluntary Carbon Offset (VCO) programs and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) contributions, which are rarely purchased by consumers. This quantitative survey study examines how passengers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for VCOs and SAF differs across ticket price levels and communication contexts. Findings indicate that, at higher ticket prices, lower stated WTP for carbon offsetting was observed when ticket price increases were presented within a more detailed communication context. Differences in communication context were not significantly associated with stated WTP for SAF, while SAF was indicated as a preferred mitigation strategy than VCOs. This study highlights the complexity of consumer decision-making regarding voluntary sustainable initiatives in aviation. Full article

Background: The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia and delay cognitive decline. However, economic evaluations in populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), particularly those incorporating cognitive outcomes, remain unavailable. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of RZV vaccination at age 50 among Chinese adults with MCI. Methods: A decision tree–Markov model was developed from a societal perspective to assess the lifetime cost-effectiveness of RZV (Shingrix, GSK) in a cohort of 1 million immunocompetent Chinese adults with MCI receiving vaccination at the age of 50. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), while secondary outcomes included cases averted and the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one case of herpes zoster (HZ), postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and dementia. A willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold equivalent to the 2024 Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (13,121 USD) was applied. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. Results: Over a lifetime horizon, RZV vaccination was estimated to avert 54.64% of HZ cases, 97.58% of PHN cases, and 12.28% of dementia cases compared with no vaccination, resulting in an additional 2.23 million quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The ICER was 4216.99 USD/QALY, remaining well below the WTP threshold. The corresponding NNVs were 6.25 for HZ, 24.03 for PHN, and 280.82 for dementia progression. Conclusions: RZV vaccination is cost-effective for Chinese adults aged 50 years with MCI, providing substantial health gains through reductions in both HZ burden and dementia progression. Full article

Sustainable tourism practices increasingly aim to reduce food waste and promote responsible consumption among hotel guests. However, the psychological mechanisms influencing guests’ responses to sustainability initiatives have not been sufficiently investigated. This study investigates whether hotel guests’ food consumption behaviours and assessments regarding food waste differ in buffet settings due to the illusion of control, and whether guests are willing to pay more when sustainability practices are perceived as their own choice. A quantitative and scenario-based research design was used. Data were collected from 307 guests staying in four and five-star hotels in Kuşadası, Türkiye. The findings show that the cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions of sustainable consumption positively influence perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intentions. These relationships are significantly strengthened when guests have decision-making control over sustainability initiatives, leading to the psychological state known as the illusion of control. Furthermore, guests show a higher willingness to pay for sustainable hotel services when they perceive themselves as participating in sustainability-related decisions. The results highlight the importance of incorporating guest participation into sustainability strategies in hotel operations. Full article

Growing consumer awareness of environmental and health issues has increased demand for sustainable products, yet a persistent gap remains between positive attitudes and actual purchasing behavior. This study addresses inconsistent findings in prior literature regarding the effects of psychological drivers on willingness to pay a premium for green products. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior and value-based perspectives, this study examines how environmental concern, health consciousness, and consumer innovativeness influence purchase intention and willingness to pay a premium (WTP) for green cosmetics. Data were collected from 872 respondents in Indonesia and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with multi-group analysis (MGA) to capture demographic heterogeneity. The results show that all three drivers significantly influence purchase intention, which in turn affects WTP and acts as a partial mediator. Demographic differences further moderate several relationships, highlighting heterogeneity in green consumer behavior. This study contributes by integrating psychological drivers, behavioral mechanisms, and demographic heterogeneity into a unified framework to explain willingness to pay for green cosmetics. The findings offer practical insights for developing targeted strategies to promote sustainable consumption in emerging markets. Full article

This sequential mixed-methods study examines when sustainability becomes a meaningful criterion in everyday consumption versus a widely endorsed discourse enacted selectively in Spain. Informed by research on the attitude–behavior gap in sustainable consumption, including work using TPB- and norm-based perspectives, the study explores how feasibility constraints and credibility concerns shape the translation of sustainability commitment into practice in a non-student adult sample. It addresses a recurring pattern in sustainable consumption research: strong normative endorsement often coexists with partial behavioral uptake, particularly when feasibility constraints (cost, convenience, perceived impact) and credibility concerns (skepticism/greenwashing perceptions) intervene. A focus group (n = 9) explored how participants define sustainability, justify conditional enactment, and interpret sustainability communication; these insights informed and refined an online survey (N = 317) capturing awareness, conceptual knowledge, concern, self-perceived behavior, practice adoption, willingness to change, and perceptions of sustainability as marketing/politics. Self-reported awareness was high (83.91%) and mean concern was 7.40/10, whereas mean self-assessed sustainable behavior was lower (6.20/10), indicating a commitment–practice gap. Most respondents reported at least one sustainable practice (98.42%) and expressed willingness to change habits (96.21%), yet intentions appeared stronger than current uptake for higher-effort changes. Associations between attitudinal endorsement and enactment were modest to moderate: concern was positively related to self-assessed sustainable behavior (Spearman’s ρ = 0.445) and to reported practice adoption (practice count; ρ ≈ 0.34), while self-assessed behavior was moderately related to practice adoption (ρ ≈ 0.48). Qualitative findings emphasized feasibility trade-offs and credibility discounting of sustainability claims. By combining interpretive evidence with survey patterns, the study shows that sustainability is widely endorsed in this sample but enacted unevenly, with feasibility and credibility helping to explain why commitment does not consistently translate into practice in the Spanish context. Full article

Drone-based Urban Air Mobility (UAM) shows immense potential in urban logistics and emergency response; however, evidence regarding its systemic sustainability remains fragmented. In a systematic review using the PRISMA methodology, this study analyzes 301 core articles to construct an evaluation framework spanning environmental, economic, social, and systemic effectiveness dimensions. Given technical similarities, electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) findings are integrated to anticipate operational challenges. Results highlight a clear consensus: drone delivery is time-efficient in high-sensitivity scenarios, though noise, equity, and safety remain critical bottlenecks. Meanwhile, deep controversies persist across some dimensions. Environmental benefits are highly context-dependent, contingent on operating models, battery life cycles, and clean energy proportions from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. Economically, a mismatch between high costs and low willingness to pay (WTP) necessitates optimized pricing strategies. Socially, public acceptance is sensitive to the balance between perceived benefits and risks. Furthermore, systemic effectiveness depends on the coupling between vertiports and ground infrastructure. Concluding that sustainable drone-based UAM is a multistakeholder systemic endeavor, we urge future research to prioritize LCA, pricing strategies, public acceptance surveys, and integrated air-ground coordination to resolve controversies and foster sustainable systems. Full article

Edible insects are recognised as a sustainable, high-protein food source, yet consumption in Western diets remains limited due to cultural barriers and concerns about taste, appearance, and safety. This study explored the factors affecting the acceptance of familiar products where insects have been added as ingredients, and how purchase intent is influenced by label information. During sensory evaluation, 59 participants tested pasta-only and pasta-with-sauce samples that were presented with and without insects (controls). Results showed no significant differences in preference between insect and control samples (pasta only: p = 0.150; pasta with sauce: p = 0.193). Open-ended feedback highlighted flavour, texture, and familiarity as key drivers. Label design strongly shaped purchase intent, with participants preferring labels that combined clear allergen and ingredient information with credible nutrition and eco-certification logos. Benefit-focused price framing (protein and sustainability) significantly increased willingness to pay (p < 0.001), while prior insect consumption, age and gender had no effect. Overall, the findings show that adding insects into a well-known ready-meal format, supported by transparent labelling and benefit-based communication, has the potential to improve acceptance. This approach highlights a practical way to bring insect proteins into mainstream food systems while contributing to nutrition and sustainability goals. Full article

This study presents a pilot cost–benefit analysis of a nature-based therapy (NBT) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Austria. Within the framework of a randomised controlled trial, we identify cost categories, quantify the costs and benefits, and synthesise findings through a partial economic evaluation. Costs were estimated for two scenarios: the trial setting and a hypothetical roll out. Benefits were valued using contingent valuation to estimate willingness to pay (WTP). The trial scenario costs were €326.27 per patient per day, while the roll out scenario estimated was €171.84 per patient per day. Cost component analysis revealed accommodation and staff as the highest contributors in both scenarios. Marginal WTP was estimated at between €25–€35 per day, indicating patients’ perceived added value of NBT over standard clinic-based rehabilitation. These exploratory findings suggest NBT could be financially viable if marginal costs are lower than the estimated WTP. This study provides important preliminary evidence on the economic aspects of NBT, highlighting its potential as a sustainable alternative to standard COPD therapy. We recommend that future research expand upon our initial findings and incorporate economic assessments from the early trial design stage to enable more comprehensive cost–benefit analyses, thus facilitating informed decision-making on the implementation of such programmes. Full article