Today’s competitive advantage is built through sustainability. Regional competitiveness is undoubtedly one of the most important components for achieving sustainability of development at the local level. The analysis of key factors and their correlations, aimed at gauging regional competitiveness, yields valuable insights into the multifaceted elements that impact the growth and advancement of underprivileged regions. However, a crucial question remains: What precisely are the factors that form the foundation for assessing and measuring regional competitiveness? The literature review and analysis initially identified the ten most frequently mentioned factors for measuring regional competitiveness. The overarching aim of the research is the understanding of the ten main determining factors of regional competitiveness and the extraction of ten propositions based on those ten factors and exploring the relationship between various factors and regional competitiveness. This study’s time frame was from August 2023 to January 2024. In this research, our aim was to undertake a traditional literature review, concentrating on the context of doing a more traditional and critical literature review rather than a systematic literature review. We assess and evaluate published research spanning the last five years (2018–2023); we have identified and emphasized ten central and widely published factors that span various domains, including (1) economy, (2) labor market, (3) poverty and social inclusion, (4) healthcare, (5) educational infrastructure, (6) environmental considerations, (7) transportation infrastructure, (8) science and technology, (9) high-tech industries, and (10) innovation. Our main findings on these ten reviewed factors indicate the following. (a) The economy factor should be expanded to include education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability parameters, while (b) there is a need to address youth employment differences in the labor market. (c) Collaborative, multidimensional approaches are important, together with improving health infrastructures and services, to improve poverty and social exclusion. (d) Investments on education and innovation are required to improve prosperity and competitiveness, as are more informed policies and collaborative actions for a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future, and finally, (f) well-planned investments in transportation, the essential link between R&D, innovation, and economic progress, as well as additional high-tech industry development and innovative actions should be taken for permanently sustainable and economic growth of the regions. Overall, the research highlights how economic, social, and environmental factors intertwine to shape successful societies, forming a fundamental understanding of regional competitiveness. The research underscores the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental factors in shaping prosperous societies, providing a foundational understanding of regional competitiveness.

In the contemporary landscape, the foundation of competitive advantage lies in sustainability, particularly within the context of regional competitiveness. This topic explores the impact of sustainability on regional competitiveness. In this study, we assessed experts’ opinions on the impact of the main ten key factors of evaluation on regional competitiveness, namely the economy, labor market, poverty and social inclusion, health, education, environmental and energy considerations, transport infrastructure, science and technology, high-tech industries, and innovation. The study aims to understand how these factors influence regional competitiveness. A sample of 93 experts participated in a questionnaire survey through the Google platform from October to December 2023. This methodology was chosen to gather diverse expert opinions efficiently. The collected data were analyzed with statistical tools, combining cross and chi-square tests. Statistical analysis methods such as cross and chi-square tests were employed to analyze the collected data. Our findings indicate that experts recognize the economy (up to a positive level of 69.1%), the labor market (up to 64.7%), and the health infrastructure (up to 52.9%) as the main impact factors on regional competitiveness. Collective efforts and improvements in these factors are essential to alleviate poverty and social exclusion (up to 50.8%). Investments in education (up to 41.9%) and technological science and the digital society (up to 39.2%) are considered key after the main factors to promoting prosperity and competitiveness. Following them, there is a growing call for creating a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future, reflected in the focus on environmental and energy issues (up to 36.7%) and toward transport developments (up to 35.7%). At the bottom of the list are high-tech industry (up to 32.5%) and the innovation factor (up to 28.2%). These factor groups are highlighted as critical aspects for promoting prosperity and addressing social challenges in the region. The findings underscore the multifactorial nature of regional competitiveness, emphasizing both the important and less critical factors. It becomes apparent that the interpretation of regional competitiveness requires a comprehensive analysis of multiple factors, each contributing differently to overall competitiveness. Further examination and analysis are necessary to fully understand these dynamics.

Regional competitiveness is essential for sustainable development, driven by complex and interrelated factors. This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess experts’ perspectives of the primary factors influencing regional competitiveness, including factors like the economy, the labor market, poverty and social inclusion, health, education, environmental sustainability, transport infrastructure, technology/science and the digital society, high-tech industry growth, and innovation. From a comprehensive list of over 250 regions in the EU, selection of regions was made based on their ranked Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI), from the region with the highest index to the region with the lowest index. This involved choosing one representative region from each of the fifty RCI rankings. The selected regions included SE11 (Stockholm, Sweden, RCI: 1.08), BE22 (the Flemish Region, Belgium, RCI: 0.46), FRH0 (Île-de-France, France, RCI: 0.11), ITC3 (Lombardy, Italy, RCI: −0.30), PL43 (Masovia, Poland, RCI: −0.69), and EL53 (Western Macedonia, Greece, RCI: −1.44). By applying the AHP methodology, the prioritization sequence of the aforementioned regions was validated, confirming the robustness of the ranking derived from the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI). The AHP analysis reinforced the importance of addressing region-specific factors and highlighted the alignment of expert judgments with the established RCI-based rankings. This study highlights the critical role of region-specific factors in driving competitiveness and sustainable development, with the AHP methodology effectively validating the prioritization of regions and providing a robust framework for aligning expert insights with established rankings.

Background: Building on our previous systematic review that synthesized eight core sustainable appetitive traits central to food behavior research, the present study extends this framework through an empirical investigation of Generation Z university students in Greece. We have established the conceptual foundation by mapping emotional, sensory, and behavioral regulation drivers of eating behavior, underscoring their relevance for nutrition and sustainability. However, empirical applications of this multidimensional framework to Generation Z remained scarce. Objectives: This study addresses this gap by examining eating behaviors among approximately 800 students at the University of Ioannina using a validated post-pandemic questionnaire. Methods & Results: Results revealed heterogeneity across six domains, with consensus observed only in sensory-driven eating (M = 3.88) and openness to new foods (M = 4.00). Cluster analysis identified two distinct profiles: Exploratory and Hedonic Responders and Emotionally Regulated and Satiety-Oriented Responders. These clusters delineate a novel profile of Generation Z, portraying them as digitally immersed, sustainability-oriented, and emotionally sensitive, yet divided between impulsive exploration and regulated satiety. Conclusions: The study contributes new empirical insights into post-pandemic food behavior. It establishes a comprehensive evidence base for designing culturally sensitive wellness programs and targeted nutritional interventions that support sustainable dietary practices. The continuity between the two papers underscores both theoretical importance and the practical necessity of integrating emotional, sensory, and regulatory dimensions in advancing sustainable eating futures among young adults.

Sustainable regional competitiveness is widely recognized as a cornerstone for fostering economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability at the local level. Building upon our previous research, in which we extensively examined the ten factors shaping regional competitiveness, this study continues the investigation by focusing on the same nine factors while replacing environmental considerations with civil protection, utilizing updated literature spanning 2020 to 2025. The study’s time frame was from March 2025 to November 2025. A literature review methodology was adopted, emphasizing critical evaluation rather than a systematic review. Recent studies published within the last five years were analyzed, with particular attention to these ten recognized factors: (1) economy, (2) labor market, (3) poverty and social inclusion, (4) healthcare, (5) educational infrastructure, (6) environmental considerations, (7) transportation infrastructure, (8) science and technology, (9) high-tech industries, and (10) innovation. The key findings of the study emphasize the distinct yet interconnected role of each factor in shaping regional competitiveness. Economic development remains foundational, closely linked with education, causes of death, and sustainability, highlighting that a strong economy alone is insufficient. Labor market dynamics, including youth employment and skills development, are crucial for translating potential into growth, while addressing poverty and social exclusion requires coordinated social and economic policies. Public health indicator reflect societal challenges and helps identify areas where targeted interventions can enhance well-being and productivity. Education strengthens human capital, supports innovation and high-tech industries, and promotes social inclusion, creating the foundation for sustainable regional growth. Environmental issues shape the risks that civil protection must manage, while effective environmental protection reduces the need for emergency response. Transportation infrastructure connects economic activity, Research & Development (R&D), Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) deployment, and innovation, enhancing regional integration. Science and technology, particularly ICT, drive productivity and competitiveness, while human capital plays a central role in the development of high-tech industries, supporting innovation and economic diversification. Finally, innovation underpins the capacity of regions to adapt and maintain a long-term competitive advantage. Overall, this research demonstrates that by retaining the same nine core factors and replacing environmental considerations with civil protection, it is possible to gain new insights into regional competitiveness.

Building on our previous systematic review that synthesized eight core sustainable appetitive traits central to food behavior research, the present study extends this framework through an empirical investigation of Generation Z university students in Greece. We have established the conceptual foundation by mapping emotional, sensory, and behavioral regulation drivers of eating behavior, underscoring their relevance for nutrition and sustainability. However, empirical applications of this multidimensional framework to Generation Z remained scarce. This study addresses this gap by examining eating behaviors among approximately 800 students at the University of Ioannina using a validated post pandemic questionnaire. Results revealed heterogeneity across six domains, with consensus observed only in sensory driven eating (M = 3.88) and openness to new foods (M = 4.00). Cluster analysis identified two distinct profiles: Exploratory and Hedonic Responders and Emotionally Regulated and Satiety Oriented Responders. These clusters delineate a novel profile of Generation Z, portraying them as digitally immersed, sustainability oriented, and emotionally sensitive, yet divided between impulsive exploration and regulated satiety. The study contributes new empirical insights into post pandemic food behavior. It establishes a comprehensive evidence base for designing culturally sensitive wellness programs and targeted nutritional interventions that support sustainable dietary practices. The continuity between the two papers underscores both theoretical importance and the practical necessity of integrating emotional, sensory, and regulatory dimensions in advancing sustainable eating futures among young adults.