Title: Young people's risk perception of nuclear power - a European viewpoint

Authors: Alan Stainer, Lorice Stainer

Addresses: Head of Engineering Management, Middlesex University, Bounds Green Road, London N11 2NQ, United Kingdom. ' University of Hertfordshire Business School, Mangrove Road, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 8QF, United Kingdom

Abstract: The paper examines the risk perception of young people, between the ages of 18 and 25, towards nuclear power. Special emphasis is given to the issues of acceptability in relation to risk, cost, safety and environmental effects. Risk and risk perception are reviewed and related to the nuclear power debate. An investigation is carried out with a sample of 829 young people in three European countries, namely France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Cross-cultural and gender differences are analysed looking at thinking about risk, electricity production, issues of nuclear power and nuclear power plants. The results and discussion show that there are evident differences in risk perception based on nationality and gender of young people. The European nuclear industry, outside France, still appears to need to overcome the acceptability gap as regards its perceived risks.

Keywords: nuclear power; nuclear energy; perceived risks; risk perception; young people; Europe; energy policy; youth; France; Germany; United Kingdom; UK; cross-cultural differences; gender differences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1995.063490

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1995 Vol.7 No.5/6, pp.261-270

Published online: 15 Jul 2014 *

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