Abstract:
The objective of this research is to showcase some practices of green entrepreneurship in Togo. Thus, a choice modelling approach is applied in this dissertation in order to estimate firms’ willingness to carry out green business according to a certain number of variables such as environmental risk, social pressure, regulation pressure, financial assistance, and so on. Further, the study examines the specific case of agricultural sector by trying to understand farmers’ behavioral choices in the context of promoting sustainable farming practices. To achieve this goal, a mathematical programming model with a representative risk-neutral and profit maximization economic agent is applied. Data used for the study come from two distinct surveys. The first survey of 170 respondents covers all types of firms and is used for the choice modelling application. The second type of data used for mathematical programming model is a survey of 423 farmers. The findings show a significant impact of policy regulations on individuals’ choices. People are more willing to engage in innovative, sustainable, and even risky activities if they can receive support from public sector. For the specific case of agricultural sector, the results reveals that combining a subsidy policy with a green credit offer policy may be the best incentivize instrument. Finally, this study provides a showcase of climate-friendly investments and technology that reduce carbon emissions and support economic development as significant research projects are now underway to investigate how much to control global greenhouse gas emissions and to identify which actions could make the world more resilient.
Description:
A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Economics
