Effects of the economic context on perceptions of benefits and dangers related to different economic risks is significant

In 1995, Sokolowska and Tyszka conducted a study in order to investigate the effects of the economic context on perception and acceptance of technological risks (Sokolowska & Tyszka, 1995). This study was conducted with citizens of Poland and Sweden since Sweden had a significantly better economic situation at the time of the research. These countries also differed with regards to the environmental law systems. Namely, Sweden had an extensive environmental protection law and more economic resources for environmentally-sound technologies, which resulted in the fact that Sweden was significantly less polluted than Poland (Sokolowska & Tyszka, 1995). The results showed that Polish and Swedish citizens did not differ in their perceptions of benefits and dangers related to different technological risks. However, Polish citizens showed more positive attitudes toward those risks (Sokolowska & Tyszka, 1995). Authors suggested that citizens from poorer countries (Poland, in this case) tend to believe that they must accept technological risks due to the economic situation in the country (Sokolowska & Tyszka, 1995). This study demonstrated that economic factors should also be taken into account in the cross-cultural research of risk perception.

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Cultural Factors: Rule of law, Worldviews, Ethnicity

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention, Preparedness

Types of Actors Concerned: Non-active citizens

Recommendations:

• Develop risk assessments methodologies, which consider cultural factors, the manner in which people cognitively process information and which employ a gender perspective