Sustainability Research in the Mediterranean

Editorial

Ioannis Passas — 2026-01-06

The Mediterranean region has long been recognized as a cradle of civilization and a crossroads of cultures; yet today it
is also one of the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic
instability (Vardopoulos & Passas, 2025). Scientific assessments consistently describe the Mediterranean as a climate change
“hotspot”, with regional temperatures increasing approximately 20% faster than the global average (Vardopoulos et al.,
2024). Rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and the intensification of extreme weather events, combined with pressures from
energy demand, migratory flows, and tourism dependency, generate complex challenges that require coordinated responses
(Salvati, 2025). At the same time, the region presents unique opportunities to serve as a living laboratory for sustainability‐
oriented innovation, particularly in renewable energy, circular economy models, sustainable tourism, and the preservation
of cultural heritage (Ciaschini & Imbrenda, 2025).
The launch of Sustainability Research in the Mediterranean responds to these realities by providing a scholarly platform
that integrates environmental, economic, and socio‐cultural perspectives. The journal aims to strengthen the link between
global debates on sustainability and the specific challenges and opportunities of the Mediterranean, advancing original,
interdisciplinary research that is internationally relevant. Its ambition is to foster dialogue among academics, policymakers,
practitioners, and local stakeholders, encouraging contributions that are theoretically robust, methodologically rigorous,
and practically oriented.
The scope of the journal encompasses a broad range of issues that shape the region's future. Urban resilience, renewable
energy transitions, biodiversity conservation, addressing water scarcity, and designing green infrastructures are crucial to
safeguarding ecological integrity. Equally important are economic and financial perspectives, with sustainable finance, ESG
reporting, auditing, governance, and green accounting (Passas et al., 2022), serving as central tools to align markets and
institutions with the climate neutrality and circularity goals of the European Green Deal. The socio‐cultural dimension is
no less essential, encompassing responsible tourism, the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, social
inclusion, migration, and the role of communities in fostering resilience and well‐being.
Each annual volume will consist of four issues. Three issues will focus on the journal’s thematic pillars, id est Cities
and Environment, Economics and Accounting, and Society, Tourism and Culture, while one issue will be dedicated to
an emerging or cross‐cutting topic, coordinated by a guest editor. A distinctive innovation of the journal will be the
inclusion of data papers, which provide systematic documentation of empirical datasets and methodological insights that the
scientific community can reuse. In line with the principles of open science, these contributions will enhance transparency,
reproducibility, and the evidence base for policymaking in sustainability research.

Efficiency of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): The Case of Greek Banks

Dimitrios I. Vortelinos — 2026-01-06

This study investigates the efficiency and value creation outcomes of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the Greek banking sector amid the turbulent period of 2012–2013. Combining a comprehensive review of international M&A literature with empirical analysis of four major bank acquisitions—Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, and National Bank of Greece—this research examines both short-term market reactions and long-term financial and operational performance. The findings reveal a persistent asymmetry in shareholder gains, with target firm shareholders benefiting significantly, while acquiring bank shareholders realize limited or statistically insignificant returns. Furthermore, key profitability and efficiency metrics, including Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Cost-to-Income ratios, show no sustained improvement post-acquisition, underscoring the challenges of achieving synergy in crisis-driven consolidations. The study concludes that Greek banking M&As during this period were largely reactive measures driven by systemic distress and regulatory imperatives rather than strategic value maximization. Implications for policy and future research emphasize the critical role of integration quality, cultural fit, and comparative cross-country analysis in understanding post-merger success in distressed financial sectors.

Sustainability and Environmental Governance in Listed Companies: Comparative Insights into Climate and Resource Management

Dimitrios I. Vortelinos — 2026-01-06

This study presents a comparative analysis of the environmental performance of selected listed companies across diverse sectors, focusing on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, resource consumption, waste management, and sustainability reporting practices. By examining key environmental performance indicators and corporate commitments, the analysis highlights progress toward decarbonization, operational efficiency, and circular economy integration. The findings reveal sector-specific strengths and challenges, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive metrics and governance in driving sustainable business practices. The study underscores the need for ongoing innovation and digital integration to enhance environmental outcomes and corporate transparency.

External Audit Quality

Dimitrios I. Vortelinos — 2026-01-06

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on external audit quality, a critical construct underpinning the integrity of financial reporting and the credibility of corporate governance. Despite its foundational importance, audit quality remains a conceptually contested and empirically complex domain, shaped by multifaceted interactions among auditor attributes, client characteristics, institutional environments, and emerging technologies. Drawing on seminal and contemporary scholarship, this review synthesizes key theoretical frameworks and empirical findings to elucidate the determinants, proxies, and consequences of audit quality. The analysis reveals consistent associations between audit quality and factors such as auditor size, independence, industry specialization, and legal enforcement, while highlighting nuanced effects for variables such as tenure and audit fees. The review also evaluates the effectiveness of common measurement proxies, including discretionary accruals, restatements, and composite indices, and examines the role of audit quality in curbing earnings management, enhancing financial performance, and reinforcing stakeholder trust. The paper concludes by identifying key gaps in the literature and offering policy and practice-oriented recommendations aimed at improving audit effectiveness in a dynamic global environment. This synthesis provides a structured foundation for future research and contributes to ongoing debates regarding regulatory reform and audit innovation.

What Influences Job Satisfaction Among Front Office Customer Service Employees?

Theodora Zaroulea — 2026-01-06

This study examines key drivers of job satisfaction among front office employees in customer service roles, where employee behavior critically shapes brand perception. Focusing on working conditions, compensation, development opportunities, and interpersonal relationships, the research uses structured questionnaires to identify factors that enhance engagement and performance. Results highlight the importance of recognition, career advancement opportunities, and positive workplace relationships. The paper offers practical recommendations for improving these factors and highlights areas for future research in the field.

Dataset of 1503 Tourists’ Survey Concerning their Attitudes Towards Sports, Economy and Sustainability

Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos — 2026-01-06

Sports tourism has emerged as a significant dimension of alternative and sustainable tourism, attracting growing academic interest due to its economic, social, and environmental implications. This study investigates the relationship between sports and tourism and examines how sports activities influence tourists’ behavior, reasons for additional pending and perceptions of sustainable regional development. A structured questionnaire was created that was addressed to tourists in Greece, with the aim of identifying their attitudes, their will and general opinions concerning money spent, length of stay, other actions related to tourism and potential correlations between several variables. 1503 replies were received in 2024, which highlighted the great relationship between sports and tourism as well as the multilateral impact of sports on tourism according to the perspective of tourists in Greece. The analysis demonstrates a strong association between engagement in sports activities and key tourism outcomes, including extended length of stay, increased daily expenditure, and enhanced overall travel experience. Demographic differences were also identified, with younger and higher educated visitors expressing stronger beliefs in the developmental benefits of sports, while older and less educated groups showed skepticism. Access to sports activities appears to motivate higher expenditures, influence destination choice. Machine learning algorithms applied to the dataset, demonstrated high accuracy in predicting daily expenditure behavior in sports activities. Overall, the study highlights the multifaceted economic, social, and environmental impact of sports on tourism and underscores the significance of sports towards sustainable tourism strategies.