Household Behavior Research Articles

Alternative investment behavior of households during crises: The effects of the COVID-19 shock on gold purchases in India

Alternative investment behavior of households during crises: The effects of the COVID-19 shock on gold purchases in India

MAIN FACTORS OF THE FORMATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN SOCIETY

The article identifies the main factors influencing human behavior in society, which interact with each other and, in aggregate, constitute the internal content of the environment of human existence – objective reality. These factors include everyday household, consciousness, needs, interests, values, ideology, goals, motivation and human behavior. The authors establish that the primary element of the mechanism of human behavior formation is life, which is a set of conditions, means, ways and forms of satisfaction of material and spiritual needs of individuals in the process of their joint activity, communication, and various forms of interaction. It is found that life as an integral element of everyday life has a significant impact on people's consciousness, but the reverse nature of interaction is not excluded. The components of everyday life, which exert an influence on human consciousness, are given. Typical interests and needs of a person are presented, and the interaction between them is investigated. The authors summarize the list of the universal human values, that reflects the change of priorities in the life values of Ukrainians in connection with the military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, identifies the most important ones and establishes why they differ in different regions of the country. The role of ideology in shaping human consciousness and behavior is established, the reasons for the lack of a national ideology in Ukraine and the consequences of this for society are substantiated. The main reasons for the divergence of the state and individual interests are clarified, as this affects the motivation and behavior of a person in society in order to achieve their own goals. It is established that each individual has a so-called «motivational mix», so in order to foresee and predict his or her behavior in society, it is necessary to understand the internal motives and external incentives that motivate him or her to behave in a certain way. The factors of the formation of human behavior in the society, the features of which can be manifested in everyday life can change under the influence of social transformations, are substantiated.

Factors Influencing Household Behavior in Storing WEEE: A Case Study from Java

Factors Influencing Household Behavior in Storing WEEE: A Case Study from Java

Effect of improving food security on parenting practices and caregiver-adolescent relationships: qualitative findings of an income-generating agricultural intervention in rural Kenya.

Despite the recognised links between food insecurity and parenting, few studies have evaluated the perceived impacts of livelihood or food security interventions on parental practices, intra-household functioning, adolescent behaviour and psychosocial outcomes in HIV-affected households in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to understand the perceived effects of food security on parenting practices and how this was experienced by both adolescent girls (aged 13-19 years) and their caregivers in rural Kenya. We conducted semi-structured, individual interviews with 62 caregiver-adolescent dyads who were participants in the adolescent Shamba Maisha (NCT03741634), a sub-study of adolescent girls and caregivers with a household member participating in the Shamba Maisha agricultural and finance intervention trial (NCT01548599). Data were analysed following the principles of thematic analysis. Compared to control households, the Shamba Maisha intervention households had improved food security and strengthened economic security, which, in turn, improved parenting practices. Intervention households described changes in parenting experiences, including decreased parental stress, reduced absenteeism and harsh parenting and improved caregiver- adolescent relationships. These positive caregiving practices, in turn, contributed to improved mental health and fewer behavioural problems among adolescent girls. Changes in the control households were less noticeable. These findings demonstrate how an income-generating agricultural intervention may improve food security and positively affect parenting practices, intra-household dynamics and adolescent psychosocial well-being and behaviour. Further research is needed to explore how to harness the social benefits of agricultural interventions to best address the critical intersections among food insecurity, parenting practices and adolescent mental health.

Household energy consumption tendencies: The Baltic States context

As energy resource prices are on the rise and the stability of energy supplies is increasingly challenged by the current geopolitical climate, it is essential to scrutinize the capability of households to adapt to the resulting circumstances by assessing the current and potential household energy supply and adapting solutions to energy consumption habits. The aim of the research is to study of the energy consumption behaviour of households in the Baltic States amidst a significant increase in prices. The research methods encompass the examination of literary sources, categorization, amalgamation, abstraction, and juxtaposition in the theoretical segment, as well as a case study focusing on energy consumers in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Notably, the study presents a unique analysis of the unprecedented scenario of substantial price hikes across all energy usage categories in the region. An examination of individual responses concerning energy consumption illustrates a notable escalation in household expenditures on electricity and heating. Households are endeavouring to curtail energy expenses through various conservation techniques. A correlation between income levels and household energy consumption is evident.

Application of international telecommunication union recommendation L.1480 on measuring the greenhouse gas emission effects to a use case for photovoltaic power generation equipment

Abstract This article generalizes ITU-T Recommendation L.1480 ”Enabling the Net Zero transition: Assessing how the use of information and communication technology solutions impact greenhouse gas emissions of other sectors” by applying it to an action outside the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field covered by this Recommendation, namely the use of a photovoltaic solar power plant in Poland, including the transition to scale. The study quantifies this use by accounting all greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions consequences (incl. installation, operation and maintenance) over the duration of the action (i.e. the supply and operation of the photovoltaic panels, inverter and associated services), through the construction of a consequence tree and observation of usage behaviors; it thus avoids pushing potentially negative effects outside the scope of the study, like rebound effects (ex.: increase of 10% in electricity consumption) or the consequences of the use of financial gains.
Three main innovations are shown:
• a step-by-step implementation of Recommendation L.1480 to a non-ICT sector,
• the effectiveness of the use of solar panels to reduce GHG emissions in Poland through actual measurement of usage data, in particular data linked to rebound effects,
• the possibility of generalizing this methodological framework to assess GHG emissions changes induced by any action already undertaken (ex post) or under consideration (ex ante).
By assessing all GHG emissions consequences and defining the steps for carrying out this assessment, L.1480 methodology covers all effects on a global scale and reflects real changes. It could thus be applied to assessing GHG emissions consequences of actions and decisions of various kinds: public policies (like carbon storage), corporate investment or household behavior. Moreover, adding other categories of environmental impact (biodiversity, scarcity of natural resources (metals, water), waste and pollution, radiative effect, etc.) would improve the exhaustiveness of effects measurement.

FARMERS’ HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS COMPARED TO SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS GROUPS

The aim of the article is to diagnose the dynamics of household savings among farmers in Poland in comparison to other social groups of households. The study attempts to relate empirical findings to selected income theories. Data from the household budgets of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) were used in this analysis. It was found that the existing theories do not correspond to the savings behaviors of farming households. It can be stated that only the integration of the permanent income theory, Modigliani and Brumberg’s life-cycle hypothesis, and the relative income theory would provide an interesting alternative. Savings in farming households increased and were generally higher in the analysed years compared to households overall and wage-earning households, despite lower income levels. However, the income levels were generally lower, which means that the propensity to save is relatively high among farming households. Farming households differ from households overall and wage-earning households in that part of the accumulated savings is allocated to financing investments or current expenses in the farm. As a result, this motivates the heads of these households to save, given the widespread aversion to increasing risk associated with using external sources of financing (credits).

The impact of lifestyle on environmental factors: An empirical analysis of French citizens’ behaviour towards environment

Several studies have been developed to show the importance of household carbon emissions and further investigate their sources and driving factors. These studies have paid attention to the impact of household behaviour with regard to energy use and introduced the concept of lifestyle into the study of personal carbon emissions including income, household size, and household structure. Despite the abundance of studies in the literature, it is quite surprising to note the scarcity of studies in France that address the impact of lifestyle on the environment and climate change. We use a nationwide dataset that provides a high-quality nationwide comprehensive survey of French lifestyle and their behaviour towards the environment. The results of this paper highlight the important and significant impact of the lifestyle of French citizens on transport, energy use, consumption, food waste, and clothing. Moreover, they allow assessing the impact of lifestyle on environmental factors in order to manage the harmful effect of climate change on French citizens. Therefore, this study provides decision-makers with extensive valuable information for promoting environmentally sustainable lifestyles and consumption.

Customized causal modeling of occupant behaviors in residential households: Causal sufficiency vs. data sufficiency

Customized causal modeling of occupant behaviors in residential households: Causal sufficiency vs. data sufficiency

A092: Research on the Influence of Physical Exercise on Family Entrepreneurship in China

Background/Purpose: Currently, the majority of Chinese people are hesitant to start a business and they are still in the transition stage from survival-based entrepreneurship to opportunity-based entrepreneurship. Therefore, how to help residents grab entrepreneurship opportunities and improve the quality of entrepreneurship is a key point of China’s current macroeconomic policies. Physical exercise is an essential way to build social and human capital because it helps to foster both individual health and the growth of social networks. This research aimed to investigate the impact of physical exercise practices on family-based entrepreneurial decision-making and outcomes, examine the underlying mechanisms, and propose targeted interventions and recommendations based on empirical findings. Method: This research conducted empirical analysis on individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 and employed the instrumental variable method to overcome potential endogenous problems, on the basis of the three-period panel data of CFPS. Households were grouped according to aspects such as urban and rural areas, genders, and occupations to compare the heterogeneity of the impact of sports participation on entrepreneurial behavior of households from different groups. Results: Physical exercise has been shown to significantly enhance family business income and encourage individuals and families to participate in entrepreneurship. Human capital and social capital performed the intermediary function in the process of physical exercise to affect entrepreneurship and income. Conclusion/Discussion: This research innovatively pointed out the effects of physical exercise on entrepreneurial behavior and entrepreneurship-related business income. To strengthen the validity of this finding, additional varied evidence from future research is required.

An analysis of the impact and mechanism of new digital infrastructures on travel consumption behaviours of middle-aged and elderly households in China

ABSTRACT The significant integration of the ‘internet’ with ‘tourism’ has changed visitor travel motivations and customer behaviour. New digital infrastructure currently provides substantial technical support for deep integration between ‘the internet’ and ‘tourism’. In this work, the HLM model is used to match and merge household-level microdata with regional-level data. The goal is to identify the mechanism underlying the impact of China’s new digital infrastructure on the travel consumption habits of Chinese households. Our analysis shows that: (1) Middle-aged and older households will be much more likely to travel, and their travel expenses will also be more intense, as the intensity of new digital infrastructure increases. (2) The development in the degree of new digital Infrastructure will effect the tourism spending behaviour of middle-aged and senior people by boosting their Internet usage.

Slashing the surplus – how prosumers with smart metering respond to regulatory restrictions on self-consumption in Croatia

With the diffusion of prosumerism, where households act both as producers and consumers of energy, policy makers must strike a balance between encouraging microgeneration and regulating this new prosumer segment on the energy market. However, effective policy implementation depends on prosumers’ behavioural reactions. This paper provides evidence on the interplay between digital real-time information and regulation of self-consumption for rooftop photovoltaics (PV) in Croatia. Croatian households that produce more annual electricity than they consume are automatically re-classified as renewable traders, which means additional administrative duties and less favorable tax treatment. This creates perverse incentives to reduce PV generation or increase energy consumption by year-end. We document the behavioural reactions to this policy design, indicating that energy production and consumption are highly elastic regarding regulatory incentives, but only if these incentives are made transparent and accessible with timely information. We collected two survey waves (n = 54 and n = 80) and smart meter data (n = 39), which illustrate the behavioural reaction before and after year-end. According to the survey wave before year-end, almost half of the participants considered curtailing their PV output. According to the smart meter data, a sizable share did indeed take action by shutting down PV production or by powering additional devices to reduce the surplus near year-end. In a second survey wave in the new year, prosumers provide ex-post insights on the specific measures taken to reduce surplus. We discuss research insights regarding the transparency and control offered by metering feedback, and how this can influence household behaviour within regulatory frameworks.

Spatial effects of ecological cognition on firewood collection by households in protected areas: An analysis based on the giant panda nature reserves

The issues of unbalanced and inadequate energy development in rural China remain prominent, particularly in areas rich in natural resources, such as nature reserves, where households still tend to rely on traditional energy utilization modes. On one hand, the traditional use of firewood for energy results in low energy efficiency and indoor air pollution; On the other hand, it exacerbates problems such as habitat degradation for wildlife and environmental collapse. Although previous studies have explored rural energy source utilization from varies of aspects, there are still limitations in examining the impact of ecological cognition on household behaviors from a spatial correlation perspective. This study conducts a field survey of rural households in the giant panda nature reserves in Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces to explore the impact of ecological cognition on rural households' firewood collection behaviors. By incorporating a spatial weight matrix, the study further analyzes the spatial spillover effects and the spatial heterogeneity of ecological cognition on rural households' firewood collection. The results show that: (1) ecological cognition significantly reduces firewood collection behaviors; (2) household income also decreases the consumption of firewood energy; (3) ecological cognition exhibits spatial spillover effects on rural households' firewood collection, indicating that household ecological cognition can impact surrounding households' ecological cognition and indirectly affect their firewood collection behaviors; and (4) significant spatial heterogeneity exists inside and outside the protected area. Ecological cognition significantly influences the firewood utilization of rural households within protected areas through spatial spillover effects, whereas its impact outside the protected areas is minimal. Strengthening forest ecological education to further raise ecological awareness, focusing on low-income households to provide energy subsidies, and utilizing the spatial spillover effects to enhance information dissemination channels are recommended for policy implications.

Beyond the Bin: The Influence of Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability on Food Waste Behavior in Households

ABSTRACTThis study examined household food waste behavior building upon a framework that integrates the motivation‐opportunity‐ability model (MOA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and norm activation model (NAM) enriched with insights from social practices theory (SPT). Using a dual‐country sample (Germany and South Africa), an online survey (n = 1065) measured how motivation, opportunity, and ability drive self‐reported food waste behavior. The results show that the ability to reduce food waste, that is, habits and perceived and actual knowledge, unfold a strong influence on reported food waste behavior. Quite surprisingly, motivation to engage in food waste reduction, due to attitude, values, and ascription of responsibility, has the lowest impact on reported food waste behavior. Our findings enhance the current understanding of food waste drivers and highlight the significance of socio‐psychological determinants of behavior, specifically ability and habits. The implications for both research and practical applications are discussed.

Predictive Analytics for Energy Efficiency: Leveraging Machine Learning to Optimize Household Energy Consumption

This paper presents a novel machine learning framework useful for optimizing energy consumption in households. Home appliances have a great potential to optimize electricity consumption by mitigating peaks in the grid load or peaks in renewable energy generation. However, such functionality of home appliances requires their users to change their behavior regarding energy consumption. One of the criteria that could encourage electricity users to change their behavior is the cost of energy. The introduction of dynamic energy prices can significantly increase energy costs for unsuspecting consumers. In order to be able to make the right decisions about the process of electricity use in households, an algorithm based on machine learning is proposed. The presented proposal for optimizing electricity consumption takes into account dynamic changes in energy prices, energy production from renewable energy sources, and home appliances that can participate in the energy optimization process. The proposed model uses data from smart meters and dynamic price information to generate personalized recommendations tailored to individual households. The algorithm, based on machine learning and historical household behavior data, calculates a metric to determine whether to send a notification (message) to the user. This notification may suggest increasing or decreasing energy consumption at a specific time, or may inform the user about potential cost fluctuations in the upcoming hours. This will allow energy users to use energy more consciously or to set priorities in home energy management systems (HEMS). This is a different approach than in previous publications, where the main goal of optimizing energy consumption was to optimize the operation of the power system while taking into account the profits of energy suppliers. The proposed algorithms can be implemented either in HEMS or smart energy meters. In this work, simulations of the application of machine learning with different characteristics were carried out in the MATLAB program. An analysis of machine learning algorithms for different input data and amounts of data and the characteristic features of models is presented.

Citrus greening, retail fruit prices, and household welfare: A demand system approach

Abstract Pests and diseases like citrus greening that threaten agricultural productivity also pose a risk to consumers. Reductions in food supply due to outbreaks and spread could increase food prices. We model U.S. household fruit demand using a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System and data from Circana’s 2020 and 2021 household panel. Price and income elasticity estimates reveal how household behavior might adjust with shocks to citrus and other fruit prices. Shocks to retail fruit prices can be from either citrus greening or other phenomena such as adverse weather. We also use compensating variation to estimate the impact that changes in fruit prices could have on consumer welfare.

Investment Pattern and Behaviour of Rural Households on Investment Avenues with Special Reference to Ernakulam District

Two-thirds (67.63% of the total population) of the people in rural India live there and contribute one-third of the country's GDP1. One of the most significant areas that increases gross domestic savings is the household sector. The main objective of the study is to understand rural household savings and investment behaviour that is influenced by a number of factors including years of age, schooling, financial status, and occupation. According to the study, the majority of respondents have lower earning potential, and even those who did earn more only set aside a little fraction of their income for savings. In India, there are numerous investment opportunities and there are advantages and disadvantages to any investment strategy. Making the best investment decisions will meet the various demands of different people requires having a thorough understanding of these investing options. This paper projects various investment options and the level of household awareness in rural areas areas. The study utilized a meticulously designed questionnaire to explore the investment preferences and awareness levels of rural investors. The primary aim was to gain insights into their preferred investment avenues and their level of understanding regarding various investment options. For data analysis, simple percentages were employed to summarize the findings, and the chi-square test was used to assess relationships between categorical variables. 300 rural households selected as sample size from Ernakulam District through convenience sampling method.

Social security, health capital and household investment behavior

The correlation between social security systems and household investment behavior has long intrigued economists. However, the mechanisms through which social safety nets affect investment decisions remain unclear. Furthermore, the potential moderating role of health capital, encompassing physical and mental health, has been underexplored. This study uses data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies to examine the relationship between social security coverage and household investment behavior, with health capital as a moderator. The results reveal a positive association between social security coverage and the propensity for risky investments, which is significantly moderated by physical and mental health, with the latter having a stronger effect. These effects vary across regions and income levels, with the strongest impacts demonstrated in developed areas and high-income households. These findings elucidate the complex pathways through which social policies influence household investment behavior, providing insights for policymakers aiming to increase financial market participation in rapidly evolving economies.

Factors affecting households’ adaptive energy-efficient upgrades in response to the energy crisis: The Norwegian case

Individual household energy-efficiency upgrading behaviours in relation to buildings are crucial in mitigating carbon emissions, yet understanding the predictors of these behaviours in the Norwegian context presents a research challenge. The principal aim of this study is to investigate the adoption patterns of energy-efficiency upgrades by Norwegian households, particularly in response to the energy crisis. It seeks to determine how socio-demographic, dwelling-related, household contextual, and psychological factors affect household behaviours concerning three upgrading measures – namely, private photovoltaic (PV) installation, flexible electricity use, and dwelling insulation. Based on survey data (N = 3514) collected in 2023 from Norwegian households, the study delineates a significant upsurge in all these three energy-efficiency upgrades within the past three years, driven by social norms, self-efficacy, and increased motivation to support the energy system after the energy crisis. The study also anticipates rapid growth in private PV systems and flexible electricity use over the next three years, influenced by social pressures, wider technology adoption, and a stronger desire to cut energy costs. The adoption of private PV systems is predominantly seen among high-income households, which is influenced by high fixed costs, inadequate institutional incentives, substantial rises in electricity prices, and a commitment to supporting the energy system post-crisis. The quick uptake of flexible electricity use is significantly influenced by social norms and technology’s compatibility with daily routines. Key factors driving insulation actions include the building age, the presence of younger household members with the necessary physical capability and skills, and the right timing perceptions. In addition, residential duration influences adoption patterns, with newer residents prioritizing personalization through high-tech measures and long-term residents focusing on maintaining insulation. This study will also discuss potential implications for policymakers in designing incentives tailored to households’ profiles and for investors in improving market strategies.

Rhythms of recycling: reconfiguring apartment waste practices in London and Melbourne

ABSTRACT Taking the example of recycling in apartments, this paper argues that paying heed to the rhythms of urban waste can provide insights into how the waste burden can be more justly distributed. Housing in London and Melbourne, our two case study sites, is an essential locus for the domestic waste regime, and apartments are anomalies that disrupt it. Overall, recycling rates are lower in apartments, and comingled stream contamination rates where they exist are relatively higher. Rather than assuming this is a product of household behavior, we take the starting point that socio-material dynamics are at play that make apartments and apartment living incompatible with dominant waste regimes. We construct and apply a practice-based spatio-temporal rhythmic framework, in which recycling is analyzed as a social practice and apartments as the site of the social, leading to two main insights. First, the spatio-temporal dimensions of more than material and more than waste relationships add to the insights that practice theory can provide on the importance of mundane urban domestic processes of waste management by pointing to unevenness. Second, spatio-temporal rhythms analysis also assists in identifying possibilities for purposive attempts to intervene at various scales of waste governance.