April 30, 2001

Microenterprises and Environmental Awareness and Action - A question of
Scale or a Separate Paradigm (Case Studies: Laundries and Motor Vehicle
Repair Firms in the Jerusalem and Chicago Regions)

There will be an added Brown Bag Seminar on Monday, April 30 from noon to 1:30
pm in the Great Cities Institute conference room, 4th floor, 412 S. Peoria, Chicago.

Title: Microenterprises and Environmental Awareness and Action - A question of
Scale or a Separate Paradigm (Case Studies: Laundries and Motor Vehicle
Repair Firms in the Jerusalem and Chicago Regions)

The prevalence and socioeconomic importance of micro-enterprises (MEP's)
is widely recognized, while research into their environmental awareness
and action is a nascent field. MEP's approximate dispersed (non-point)
sources. It is generally more efficient to focus on larger firms (point
sources) with greater resources to respond to environmental issues.
MEP's also tend to be family firms with a characteristic values and
priorities. This paper draws on a 1999 field survey of very small
laundries and motor vehicle repair (MVR) firms in the Jerusalem
municipality (east and west) conducted prior to the Al Aqsa Intifada,
and explores the relationship between internal and external firm factors
on environmental awareness and response. Based on the Jerusalem
research, a complimentary study is ongoing in the Chicago region
focusing on MVR firms, where there are both similarities and differences
in the firm profiles and business environment. Preliminary results
suggest further study in the importance of both the informal and formal
regulatory environment on MEP environmental behavior.

Presenter:  Debby Mir

Debby Mir is a Visiting Senior Associate at the Great Cities Institute, and is
currently writing her doctoral thesis at Hebrew University in Jerusalem,
Department of Environmental Management and Policy. Her background is in
environmental sciences, and she has worked as an environmental
professional in government, academic institutes and private enterprise
in California, Europe and Israel. Her current interests are in the
interplay between the science and technology, and informal and formal
regulatory environments on influencing environmental action.
 

We look forward to seeing you. ...to enjoy each other's company...and to share
your work and support the work of others. (Note: don't forget to bring your
lunch; we will provide coffee and soft drinks.)