Ekonomia

Contexts of changes in the habits in contemporary consumption: The pandemic and the crisis

Joanna Wardzała — 2024-08-14

This paper examines the changes in consumption habits during the pandemic period as well as the impact of the crisis on young people’s consumption behavior. The study presents the considerations which are based on the authors’ own research, which involved the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data. A quantitative study was conducted in 2021 on a representative sample of Poles (total number N = 1,268). This study aims to determine how much and to what extent the pandemic experiences have changed the consumer behavior habits of Poles.

It was hypothetically assumed that the post-pandemic experiences had a significant impact on changing the consumption habits of Poles.

In order to determine the durability of the changes in consumption that appeared in 2021, a qualitative research was carried out in 2023, in which a crisis in the consumption behavior of young people was conducted as an in-depth analysis. This research was conducted by the FGI (focus group interview) intelligence method among five focus groups. It assumed that young people are particularly sensitive to changes and they undertake compensatory consumption behavior during the crisis period.

Food deconsumption as part of a sustainable lifestyle: A study of Polish deconsumers

Anita Szuszkiewicz — 2024-08-14

Deconsumption, defined as a wide spectrum of voluntary activities aimed at reducing consumption levels, is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary phenomenon, which concerns the reduction of goods and resources purchased, consumed, and used by consumers. The phenomenon could be manifested in a partial resignation from the purchase of products or possession of goods, reducing the consumption of resources or changing the current way of meeting needs. Deconsumption has numerous links with the concept of sustainable development, a trend that has gained importance in recent years as a response to excessive and unsustainable consumption and production. The purpose of this article is to examine and characterize the importance and interactions between food deconsumption — its forms (such as limiting consumption levels, eliminating food categories, etc.) and subjects (different food categories) — and the sustainable lifestyles of consumers. Empirical research was conducted in order to recognize consumer opinions and behaviors in the context of selected manifestations of deconsumption. The quantitative study was conducted in November 2021 on a sample of N = 516 Polish respondents using the CAWI technique and the authors’ own questionnaire. The respondents were asked about, among other things, the reduction of food consumption. The main hypothesis of the study was that deconsumption practices among Polish respondents are manifestations of their aspirations to live a sustainable lifestyle — for this purpose, a statistical hypothesis of no correlation between belonging to one of the groups of respondents (incidental, fragmentary, or lifestyle deconsumers) and food deconsumption practices was formulated and tested in a quantitative study. One in two respondents declared a reduction of food consumption in the twelve months preceding the survey. Health concerns were the second most common reason for food deconsumption, preceded by rising food prices, which highlighted the importance of motives of an economic and health nature over the others covered in the survey, and could therefore be attributed to sustainable practices relating to consumers’ lifestyles. The respondents gave up or limited the consumption of salty snacks, sweets, and ready meals to the highest degree. A relatively high percentage of respondents declared limiting the consumption of meat and cold cuts as well. The reduction of fish and seafood and dairy products consumption was observed to a slightly lesser extent. The results of the study revealed a relatively high consumer awareness of healthy eating, as well as care for health and a slim figure. This observation coincides with current consumer trends (care for health, conscious consumer, well-being, “health again”). Deconsumption in the researched study sample took also the form of dietary trends such as flexitarianism, vegetarianism, and veganism, which are gaining popularity nowadays.

Post-pandemic echoes in the forms of spending and organizing leisure time by the Polish people

Beata Kolny — 2024-08-14

This article explores the extent to which various leisure activities adopted during the pandemic, due to the closure of service facilities and other restrictions, are still popular among individuals. It draws on both secondary research and primary data collected through a website survey technique among 1,100 adult Poles in November 2022. The findings indicate that Poles continue to enjoy streaming movies and music, and maintain social connections online even after the pandemic. Those who used physical activity tracking apps during the pandemic still rely on them. Due to travel restrictions and uncertainty of the pandemic period, respondents now plan and book trips within Poland on short notice.

Changes in the lifestyle of Polish students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the light of direct research

Paweł Waniowski — 2024-08-14

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in the lifestyles of all social groups. As a result of the subsequent restrictions resulting from the epidemic threat, all areas of both professional and private life had to be modified. Students were a social group whose lifestyle changes were particularly visible. For most of this period, universities conducted classes remotely, using Internet platforms. Therefore, it was necessary to make changes in the current way of life, often associated with a change of place of residence, modification of the way of spending free time and current habits. A significant part of these changes may be permanent and remain after the end of the pandemic state or threat.

The aim of the paper is to analyze the changes in the lifestyle of Polish students in the light of our own surveys addressed to them. The students’ opinions on the changes in the way of acquiring and testing knowledge, in relations with the university and peers, and in the process of communicating with them will be presented and critically assessed. Changes in the process of nutrition, healthcare, including the length of sleep and physical activity, and the pursuit of one’s own interests will also be taken into account. The conclusions of the research will be confronted with the results of other studies and analyses devoted to various problems of lifestyle changes under the influence of COVID-19.

Pleasure, impulse, compulsion, and rationality in the behavior of young consumers in the context of contemporary challenges and current events

Aleksandra Perchla-Włosik — 2024-08-14

In modern societies, significant changes are taking place in the sphere of consumption. Consumption is no longer just a way of satisfying needs. Sometimes it can also be about experiencing pleasure (also on impulse) or relieving tension. A characteristic behavior of pleasure consumers is the spontaneous (impulsive) purchase of goods that are attractive to them. At the same time, impulsive purchases differ from rationalized purchases in that the decision to purchase a given product is made quickly and usually without deeper reflection. The purpose of this article is to try to answer the question, what is the essence of purchasing decisions in the face of the challenges of the modern world, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and inflation? What are the shopping habits of young consumers, especially in relation to their emotional, psychological, social, and economic spheres? In light of these challenges, can one notice any adaptation strategies, “survival” strategies, rationalization of behavior, or, on the contrary, will the orientation towards pleasure, compulsive shopping, or impulse purchases dominate? The subject of this article is the consumer behavior of young people, perceived as a series of reactions to various stimuli — instincts, emotions — that inspire and mobilize them to satisfy their needs. The answers to the questions posed above were obtained by analyzing the data obtained through qualitative research using the technique of focus group interviews.

Nostalgic consumer trends and nostalgia marketing

Magdalena Daszkiewicz — 2024-08-14

Over the last few years, we have observed an intensification of nostalgic consumer trends manifested through choices and behaviors that reflect sentimental attachments to the past. In parallel, we increasingly note a growing presence of marketing activities that tap into the emotions and experiences tied to consumers’ memories. These efforts link brands and their campaigns to positive concepts or ideas from the past. Nostalgia marketing relies on evoking positive feelings about the past and applies to products, marketing communications, and brand experiences.

The article seeks to identify trends based on nostalgia, both in terms of consumer behavior and marketing practice. The author presents the essence of nostalgia marketing and the research domains on nostalgic consumer behavior. The article describes nostalgic consumer trends in the context of their determinants. It identifies nostalgic strategies and trends in contemporary marketing practice. The objectives are realized based on a literature review supported by bibliographic analysis, desk research based on available quantitative and qualitative research results, and content analysis of campaigns promoting nostalgic products and using themes and content related to nostalgia marketing. Insights on nostalgic trends and marketing approaches provide the basis for identifying practical and research recommendations.

The consumer behavior in the context of counterfeit products: A bibliometric analysis

Robert Jadach — 2024-08-14

This article aims to identify the main areas of works devoted to the topic of counterfeit goods/brands consumption and to present the dynamics of changes in researchers’ interest in this subject. The research method used in the article was bibliometric analysis, complemented by content analysis of literature selected from the Scopus database. Research results: The main areas of research on the issue of counterfeit product consumption focused on 1) online consumer behavior and ethical aspects, 2) consumption of counterfeit products and brands, and 3) social aspects of consumption of counterfeit products. The earliest publications focus on purchasing behavior in the context of buying counterfeit products, followed by researchers who have focused on the ethical aspects of consuming counterfeit goods. More recent studies focus on the consumption and trade of counterfeit goods on the Internet. Conclusions: The ever-expanding global trade in counterfeit products poses a major challenge — it erodes business revenue, undermines innovation, and hampers economic growth. To effectively mitigate these phenomena, it is essential to have up-to-date knowledge of the latest scientific advances in the field. Research into the buyer behavior in the context of counterfeit goods can provide useful information for manufacturers about the scale of the problem and the possible need for remedial action.

The importance of current megatrends and trends in the opinion of X and Z generations

Aleksandra Wicka — 2024-08-14

Contemporary changes in the world can be described by looking for similarities in phenomena occurring in different places. Currently, such megatrends include, among others: Demographic Shifts, Multipolarization of the World, Symbiocene, Bioera, and Mirror World. They are strongly related to technological progress, digitalization, and changes in societies. The aim of this article is to answer the question of whether the development trends are perceived as equally important by representatives of generations X and Z. Their attitude will be related to the willingness to accept the anticipated and already occurring changes. The research was conducted in 2023 on a sample of 500 people from generations X and Z. It was found that regardless of their generation, the respondents considered all megatrends current and important. They rated the importance of the Mirror World megatrend as the lowest, which means they are skeptical about the rapid domination of relationships by those taking place mainly on the Internet. The trends perceived as important included Mental Well-Being, Loneliness, Depopulation, and Roboticized Life, while the following were considered less important: Deglobalization, Medicine Resistance, Nation-State Collapse, and Identity Nomads. By comparing the assessments of trends by the representatives of the X and Z generations, it was found that the importance of each of the examined trends was assessed higher by younger people from Generation Z. For the most current trends, the differences in the assessments are statistically significant.

Modern sport fans and their purchase intentions

Marcin Leszczyński — 2024-08-14

Digital transformation has had a profound impact on various industries, and the sports sector is no exception. Nowadays there is a new growing group of sports fans — modern ones — who have been functioning in the digital world since birth, and therefore have unique behavioral patterns, habits, and expectations. Consequently, an increasing number of sports clubs have recognized the unique needs of these modern fans, prompting them to offer digitized sports products as a means of keeping pace with evolving trends. This article aims to explore the factors that influence the purchase intentions of digitized sports products, such as match highlights or behind-the-scenes content, among sports fans. Utilizing the logit model, our analysis revealed that relatively older individuals and those who perceive their income situation favorably exhibit a significantly higher purchase intention. Interestingly, our study also discovered that gender did not emerge as a statistically significant factor. In the context of digital transformation, understanding the determinants of purchase intentions for digitized sports products holds considerable importance. Identifying the factors that influence fans’ decisions to invest in these offerings can enable sports clubs and organizations to tailor their digital strategies effectively, cater to the preferences of modern fans and, ultimately, enhance fan engagement and satisfaction.

Assessment of selected elements of healthcare in the opinion of healthcare workers

Agata Niemczyk — 2024-08-14

The healthcare system is an important part of the functioning of any country. A special role in this system is played by the personnel — especially medical, but also non-medical personnel, who perform their tasks based on the available resources. The article considers the opinions of healthcare workers about selected elements of this system proposed by Zgliczyński. The opinions of employees regarding the current healthcare system compared to the one in 2019 are also included, highlighting the nature of these changes. Bearing in mind the relatively limited literature in the field of the considerations undertaken in this article, they can be regarded as important, up-to-date, and filling the research gap in this respect. The aim of the study was achieved using a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and a diagnostic survey. Empirical data were obtained from fieldwork conducted among staff of public and/or private sector healthcare facilities.

Determinants of educational and career decisions as well as educational migration based on the example of medical students at the Medical University of Lodz

Danuta Jędrzejewska — 2024-08-14

Career decisions are most often made when taking up higher education. This is particularly true for medical students, especially medical practice students. Many factors influence the decisions made by young people. The subject literature mainly points to the importance of one’s own predisposition and interests, but also to the role of remuneration and the situation of a particular profession in the labor market. The case of people who take up the medical practice course of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) at the Medical University of Lodz in Poland is particularly interesting. The purpose of this paper is to show the reasons identified during the pilot study for taking up the analyzed course, the choice of university, and the university city. The pilot study, designed in principle to verify the validity of the prepared survey questionnaire, was conducted among 29 third-year students of the MND medical practice course at the Medical University of Lodz. It was conducted using a diagnostic survey method in the form of a questionnaire with over a dozen questions. The questions addressed the factors related to the students’ choice of medical practice course, determinants affecting their choice of the Medical University of Lodz and the university city. The questionnaire also contained questions about the respondents’ post-graduation plans and demographics. The results of the study allowed for the identification of the most important factors that affected the respondents’ choice of the medical practice course. These included personal interests, predisposition, the profession’s prestige, family traditions, and the physician’s remuneration. Other aspects included the factors affecting the choice of university and Łódź as the university city. The results of the study proved that the respondents chose the medical university in Łódź due to the availability of the MND medical practice course, as it is the only course of its kind in Poland. The high quality of the learning facilities, the university’s prestige, and the high level of teaching were also of great importance. Łódź was chosen as the university city primarily because of its university and the availability of the MND medical practice course.

Public health challenges in the context of the influx of refugees from Ukraine to Poland

Nicol Sosada — 2024-08-14

The new geopolitical situation connected Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put the Polish healthcare system in front of a huge challenge and the necessity to quickly take and implement strategic decisions aimed at providing the best possible healthcare for refugees without harming the Polish society. Objective: The main objective of the article is to present selected challenges of public health resulting from the influx of refugees to Poland. Materials and methods: the research part used a review of the current Polish literature containing information on the influx of refugees to Poland, Google Scholar, and PubMed scientific databases, as well as statistical data from the Central Statistical Office (CSO). Results: public health, despite many difficulties related to the lack of medical documentation, the threat to the health security of the Polish population, the excessive burden on the state budget, and problems with the implementation of Ukrainian specialists, developed and consistently implemented health strategies with the involvement of private health care. The reforms implemented by the Polish government, aimed at adapting to the new reality, have contributed to the provision of the necessary and specialized health services for refugees, without adversely affecting access to medical care for Polish citizens. Conclusions: The changes introduced by the Polish government, which contributed to the adaptation of the healthcare system to new challenges, such as providing support to refugees, were analyzed. The results of the analysis show that these modifications made it possible to provide the necessary and specialized health services for this group, without affecting the accessibility of healthcare for Polish citizens. The study suggests that such an approach can provide an effective model for adapting to contemporary migration challenges while meeting the needs of refugees and ensuring access to healthcare for the local community.

Changes in the structure of mortality due to COVID-19 in Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia

Joanna Dębicka — 2024-08-14

Objectives: The objective of our paper was to determine the statistical significance of the impact of the COVID-19 disease on the average age of death of an individual and the dependence of the average age of death on the causes of death in 2020.

Study design: Awareness of the effects and consequences of the pandemic prompted us to check whether COVID-19 had a statistically significant impact on death patterns in Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia.

Methods: The research is based on a detailed comparative analysis of the age structure of deaths from COVID-19 in countries that are regionally and culturally close. The Renkonen similarity index is calculated, followed by the non-parametric test for similarity of structures.

Results: The average life expectancy in the analyzed countries decreased by about 1–2 years, and the forecasts of the increase in the number of deaths in 2020 turned out to be underestimated by 11% in the case of Slovakia and by 15% in the case of Poland and Czechia. COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death for women and the third leading cause of death for men in Poland and Czechia. In Slovakia, it was the third leading cause of death among women and the fourth among men.

Conclusions: The pandemic caused not only direct deaths from the virus, but also indirect deaths due to the disruption of healthcare systems, socioeconomic shocks, and mental health consequences.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Geographical and commodity scope in Polish imports

Elżbieta Kawecka-Wyrzykowska — 2024-08-14

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a new instrument of the EU’s European Green Deal policy. It is intended to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. The CBAM provides for a levy (tax) to be imposed on energy-intensive imports which heavily pollute the environment. The aim of the study was to provide a quantitative assessment of the commodity and geographical coverage of the CBAM in Polish imports. Several indicators were calculated to assess the possible negative impact of CBAM. These indicators can be interpreted as rough measures of the effects of the tax. They were compared with similar indicators calculated by other authors for the whole EU.

This paper is a continuation of earlier studies of other researchers who analyzed CBAM coverage and possible implications, while adopting assumptions other than those finally included in the CBAM Regulation.

The key findings and main conclusions are as follows: Negative effects of the CBAM will be concentrated on several product groups: steel products, chemicals, polymers, and aluminum. These products accounted for as much as 96% of Poland’s external import subject to the levy. The scale of the final effects of the tax will depend mainly on the level of ETS allowance prices and the intensity of adjustments made by domestic companies and foreign partners. The study ends with two conclusions: First, manufacturers have several years to prepare a strategy to limit the negative effects of the levy (it will be charged as of 2026), but they should start the adjustments as soon as possible. Second, the carbon footprint of a product (as low as possible) is becoming an increasingly important factor in the manufacturers’ international competitiveness.

The method of descriptive analysis as well as statistical methods were used.