Factors to Overcome the Economic Crisis and to Support the Sustainable Development from the Citizens’ Perspective

The goal of the study is focused on the identification of the citizens’ perceptions regarding the main factors for supporting the sustainable regional development and for an adequate mitigation of the financial and economic crisis. Besides the quantitative approach of the sustainable development, revealed by the statistical data analysis, the people’s specific views could contribute to a more refined analysis with an important qualitative focus. In order to better understand the people’s views related to the sustainable development in the region where they live, a pilot survey has been organized, encompassing 154 respondents randomly selected. Simultaneously, the citizens have provided their opinions related to potential solutions for reducing the effects of the crisis and for supporting the future sustainable development. The main outcomes of the research consist in the qualitative analysis of the citizens’ perceptions. Due to the number of the participants and the sampling methods implemented, the results could not been generalized, illustrating only the existing trends in the region, according to the residents’ specific views. Moreover the pilot research revealed the citizens’ commitment to identify the main development factors, as well as their availability to participate with their experience and know-how in the process of the design and implementation of the regional sustainable strategy. Consequently, the people’s willingness to engage themselves in the process of the design of the regional sustainable development strategy can be further exploited for redefining the respective procedures in order to become widely participatory.