Home Production Research Articles

Research and Analysis of Smart Home Products Based on the Emotional Needs of Generation Z Living Alone

Abstract: With the rapid transformation of Chinas economic structure, the concentration of industrial resources, and the widespread access to education, the young Generation Z has undergone a conceptual metamorphosis, flocking to first- and second-tier cities, resulting in a phenomenon of living alone. In a sense, these individuals drive social development through their own efforts; however, their collective psychological characteristics often clash with the heterogeneous and transient environment in which they reside. The issue of unmet emotional needs stemming from their solitude is becoming increasingly pronounced. This paper examines the living conditions and consumption characteristics of Generation Z living alone and, from the perspective of their emotional needs, explores their preferences and demands in the application of smart home products. The goal is to provide meaningful insights for improving the quality of life for young urban dwellers living alone and to contribute to the research and development direction of smart home product design.

Untying the Knot: How Child Support and Alimony Affect Couples’ Dynamic Decisions and Welfare

Abstract In many countries, divorce law mandates post-marital maintenance payments (child support and alimony) to insure the lower earner in married couples against financial losses upon divorce. This paper studies how maintenance payments affect couples’ intertemporal decisions and welfare. I develop a dynamic model of family labor supply, home production, savings, and divorce and estimate it using Danish register and survey data. The model captures the policy tradeoff between providing insurance to the lower earner and enabling couples to specialize efficiently, on the one hand, and maintaining labor supply incentives for divorcees, on the other hand. I use the estimated model to study various counterfactual policy scenarios. I find that alimony comes with more substantial labor supply disincentives compared to child support payments and is less efficient in providing consumption insurance. The welfare maximizing policy, within the status quo policy space, involves increasing child support and reducing alimony payments. My results show that Pareto improvements beyond this welfare maximizing policy are feasible, highlighting limitations of how child support and alimony policies are commonly implemented.

Problematic issues of the impact of microplastics on the human body and the environment: A review

Currently, the widespread use of plastic has become a serious problem for the environment and human health. Microplastics, being an artificial polymer created by man, are highly resistant to external influences and their decomposition requires a significant amount of time. The article provides information on the distribution of microplastics and their impact on the environment and the human body, issues of detecting microplastics in the blood, heart, lungs, placenta and meconium, in breast milk, hypothetical mechanisms by which microplastics penetrate into human tissues and the metabolism of plasticizers in children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In the modern world, plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives, the presence of microplastics in plastic bags for storing breast milk, in baby formula and polypropylene bottles has been demonstrated, the relationship between microplastics and postpartum depression, the relationship between fecal microplastics and the status of inflammatory bowel diseases has been described. Making the decision to limit the use of plastic products in your home is an important step that can play a key role in reducing environmental pollution and protecting the health of future generations.

Job loss, consumption insurance, and household time allocation

This study examines how married households respond to negative income shocks resulting from the husband’s job loss, focusing on both monetary insurance channels and changes in the time use of husbands and wives. Using a unique Japanese panel dataset, the empirical analysis shows that the husband’s involuntary job loss leads to significant and persistent declines in his labor earnings. However, the impact on household consumption expenditure is considerably smaller, with only about one-fifth of the income shock transmitted to consumption, suggesting that a substantial amount of monetary insurance is at work. In the short run, unemployment benefits play a crucial role in mitigating the shock, while the wife’s labor supply becomes important in the long run, especially for households where the wife was not employed full-time before the job loss. Additionally, husbands significantly increase their time spent on home production following job loss, and this effect persists for at least three years.

Home production and time use in an epidemic

Home production and time use in an epidemic

Understanding User Experience with Smart Home Products

ABSTRACT There has been a surge in the popularity of smart home products. Existing literature primarily focuses on the initial adoption of these products, with less attention given to the post-adoption stage. This has created a research gap in understanding user experience (UX) and the key dimensions of user satisfaction and dissatisfaction. This study aims to address this gap by examining both positive and negative user experiences with smart home products. Using robotic vacuum cleaners as a case study, we analyze key UX dimensions derived from their positive and negative reviews on Amazon.com that influence user satisfaction and dissatisfaction, respectively. Dimensions contributing to satisfaction include “functionality,” “smartness,” and “enhanced capacity (mopping feature).” In contrast, “insufficient smartness,” “poor customer service,” and “connectivity problems” are critical dimensions for user dissatisfaction. Notably, “smartness” serves as a double-edged sword, potentially leading to high satisfaction but also significant dissatisfaction if poorly implemented. Our analysis also includes a comparative examination of robotic vacuums with traditional vacuums, highlighting the different UX dimensions associated with each product type. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we further examine the configurations of these UX dimensions that contribute to satisfaction and dissatisfaction. To generalize our findings, we applied our framework to smart thermostats and proposed a UX model for smart home products. Our findings not only fill the research gap in smart home literature but also offer valuable insights for practitioners in designing smart home products and developing marketing strategies. Our research method can be applied to understand user experience with various types of smart home products and other innovative technologies.

Labor supply effects of a universal cash transfer

I investigate the labor supply effects of the introduction of an exceptionally large unconditional cash benefit. I exploit the unique design of the child benefit program in Poland to identify the effects of the monthly transfer in a difference-in-differences design. The transfer had no short-term effects but caused sizable negative medium-term effects on household labor supply. In the medium run, population estimates indicate that for every extra 100 dollars in monthly child benefit transfers households received, they reduced their after-tax earnings by 25 dollars, spent 32 dollars on consumption, and saved 43 dollars. These negative labor supply effects are much larger and much more precisely estimated among households with low socioeconomic status. Additional evidence shows that the program had a positive impact on investments in human capital and home production efficiency.

Design of an Energy-Saving System for Smart Home Decoration Based on Situational Awareness

This article analyzes the specific energy-saving requirements for smart home decoration in the current market to determine the overall plan of the entire smart home decoration energy-saving system. Based on situational analysis combined with grounded theory, organize and summarize the original data, and use factor analysis for dimensionality reduction analysis. Combining the multi-level analysis method, experts evaluated and scored the user experience evaluation indicators, obtained the weight assignment of each influencing factor, and constructed a user experience evaluation model for smart home products based on situational theory. After extensive testing, it was found that the ZigBee based smart home network implemented in this article has low energy consumption, overcomes many shortcomings of smart home networks, and has high application value.

Income or Leisure? On the Hidden Benefits of (Un)Employment

Do unemployed people benefit from more free time, while consumption is the sole motive for employed people to accept a life with less available time? Does this apply equally to men and women? To inform ongoing policy debates on how to address the problem of unemployment, we provide a comprehensive discussion of the traditionally assumed trade-off between income and leisure in labor supply decisions, which has been contested for a variety of reasons. Using rich German panel data, we compare non-employed individuals after plant closures with employed individuals regarding their subjective well-being obtained from time use and income. We find that increased non-working time through unemployment translates into higher free-time satisfaction, while also improving satisfaction with family life, as a possible hidden benefit of being unemployed when having more time for home production. Meanwhile, there is a strong decline in satisfaction with household income, especially among unemployed men, which cannot be explained solely by a lower level of income. We inspect the role of social norms in this context and argue that individuals obtain identity utility through having a job that ensures being self-sufficient, as a hidden benefit of employment. Based on studying unemployed workers transitions into retirement and a separately conducted survey experiment, we provide strong evidence on the importance of the social norm of earning a living from work. Our experiment also shows that home production is a way of mitigating the pressure to comply with this norm, which is true for men and women alike.

Gender differences in the added (home) worker effect

This study combines the literature on home production and on the added worker effect as households’ self-insurance mechanisms against unemployment. Exploiting Dutch panel data with detailed information on time use categories and subjective job loss expectations, we estimate the causal effect of an unforeseen job loss on spouses’ time use decisions regarding paid work and home production. In the analysis we explicitly differentiate between males and females who experience sudden unemployment. We find no effect on the intensive or extensive margins of spousal labor supply or on spousal time in home production.

Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Korea's Collectivistic Organizational Climate on Managers' Perception of Work from Home and Work Productivity Changes

Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Korea's Collectivistic Organizational Climate on Managers' Perception of Work from Home and Work Productivity Changes

The industrial application potential of sugar beet pulp derived monosaccharides d-Galacturonic acid and l-Arabinose.

This review provides a perspective on the industrial application potential of sugar beet pulp (SBP) derived monosaccharides. The broad application of these monosaccharides could contribute to bio-based alternatives and sustainable practices, essential for the transition towards a more circular economy. This review focuses on the utilization and application of two SBP monosaccharides, d-galacturonic acid (d-GalA) and l-arabinose (l-Ara), derived from pectin and hemicellulose. These polysaccharides are major components of sugar beet pulp, an important side stream of sucrose production. d-GalA and l-Ara are therefore abundant in biomass and offer unique molecular structures amenable to selective chemical or enzymatic modifications. We review their application in various industrial applications such as the development and production of bioactive compounds, home and personal care products, and other industries.

The earned income tax credit (EITC) and time spent helping and caring for adults

AbstractThis is the first study to examine the effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on unpaid caregiving for adults, which could operate through the credit’s effects on labor supply and household income. Using a sample of unmarried mothers and data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), I employ a simulated benefit approach to generate causal estimates of the effect of EITC generosity on time use. I find that increases in average EITC benefits have differential effects on assisting adults by both the age of the EITC recipient and the relationship between the EITC recipient and the care recipient. No effect is estimated for the youngest group of unmarried mothers (ages 25–34), who increase employment without reducing time spent assisting adults. In contrast, the oldest group of unmarried mothers (ages 45–54) responds by increasing their propensity to assist their parents while maintaining their labor supply. Unmarried mothers aged 35–44 both increase their labor supply and spend more time assisting adult family members on the intensive margin, even as they are less likely to assist parents on the extensive margin, especially with chore help. Results for other types of time use (home production, leisure, childcare, education, sleep), as well as probability of multigenerational co-residence, help explain these shifts. For example, for the oldest group of unmarried mothers, increased co-residence with parents is estimated to occur and may facilitate this labor-caregiving balance. These results add to a growing body of evidence that the EITC affects recipients’ time allocation beyond paid work and that the effects of the EITC span across generations and households.

AHP-CRITIC-TOPSIS-based analysis of the influence of young people’s preferences on the design of Funan wicker home products

Wicker home products, handcrafted from sustainable materials such as willow, vine, and bamboo, embody principles of sustainable development. However, they face a lack of clear appeal among young consumers in the Chinese market. This study utilizes the AHP-CRITIC-TOPSIS method to examine user preferences for Funan Wicker home products to enhance the original products based on young users’ choices in the contemporary era. Using the AHP method, 14 evaluation indicators were selected across three key factors and determined subjective weights. Objective weights were calculated using the CRITIC method to establish a comprehensive ranking. Subsequently, the TOPSIS method was employed to evaluate and order the nine design alternatives. The findings highlight a strong emphasis on emotional criteria in the evaluation process, with variables such as Weaving Fineness, Stress Release, Pleasure, and Cultural Value significantly influencing user preference. According to the calculations, the program IX with the highest proximity emerged as the optimal choice. Based on these results, the study refines design focus and quantitative indexes for willow home product designers, proposing innovative design methods that offer theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of willow products in Funan, China.

Environmental and behavioral mitigation strategies for patients with atopic dermatitis

Although numerous medications have recently been approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), the current treatment guidelines often lack information on non-pharmacologic approaches to disease management. In contrast, patients and caregivers frequently express strong interest in environmental and behavioral mitigation strategies. Herein, we summarize the evidence-base for these interventions with a focus on the role of specific chemicals in driving AD. We outline avoidance strategies for the various routes of exposure such as air pollution, water contamination, or inclusion in home goods, skin care products, and cleansers. Evidence for and against dietary modification and emollient use as primary prevention are discussed. To remember these interventions we propose a mnemonic, HELPSS AD: Home decor, Emollients, Laundering, Probiotics, Soaks, Social support, Air quality, and Diet. Each of these categories presents nuanced molecular differences that must be considered. For example, probiotic responses vary by the specific species while home products and pollution must be analyzed by the specific toxins. Although the interventions discussed lack the level of evidence required for inclusion into formal guidelines, awareness of these approaches may offer aid to, and build trust with, patients and caregivers.

Building the Lands’ End digital asset management content hub

Founded in 1963, Lands’ End is a digital retailer of clothing and home products available through online marketplaces and retail stores. In 2019, the company transitioned to a new enterprise digital asset management solution for its in-progress and final assets. This paper summarises how the new system has expanded into a content hub for a wide variety of digital assets, including images, video, catalogue pages, e-mails and integrations with enterprise systems, and describes the challenges, benefits and opportunities.

Understanding the factors that motivate South African home fibre users to protect their home networking devices: a protection motivation theory

Purpose As home users are increasingly responsible for securing their computing devices and home networks, there is a growing need to develop interventions to assist them in protecting their home networking devices, which are vulnerable to attack. To this end, this paper aims to examine the motivating factors that drive South African fibre users to protect their home networking devices. Design/methodology/approach Using the protection motivation theory as the primary framework, a measurement instrument comprising 53 questionnaire items was developed to measure 13 constructs. The study collected empirical data from a sample of 392 South African home fibre users and evaluated the research model using structural equation modelling. Findings The evaluation showed a good fit, with 12 out of 15 predicted hypotheses being accepted for the final research model, contributing to the understanding of the factors that motivate home users to protect their home networking devices. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to model the factors that drive South African home fibre users to protect their home networking devices. Knowing these factors could help home internet service providers and security software vendors of home products to develop security interventions that could assist home fibre users to secure their home networking devices.

Reconciling Britain’s agricultural trade policy initiatives with world trade rules: 1960–1975

ABSTRACT Between 1960 and 1972 successive British governments explored, and sometimes pursued, a series of agricultural trade policy initiatives designed to shift the burden of supporting UK farmers from taxpayers to consumers, and to reduce the UK’s agri-food imports by expanding home production. These included a minimum import price scheme for cereals; a Selective Expansion Programme; debate about Agriculture’s Import Saving Role; and 1970 proposals for a fundamental change to farm policy that would apply whether or not the UK joined the European Communities (EC). Prior to EC membership the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), bilateral agreements with a number of countries, and pressure from the UK’s trading partners (particularly the United States) constrained its room for manoeuvre. Consequently, this dimension of farm policy could not safely be left to agriculture ministers and the Treasury, but was one that involved other departments, and prime ministers, as it necessitated detailed international negotiations. Following EC entry, GATT Article XXIV deliberations and the UK’s renegotiation of its terms of entry failed to secure meaningful reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The 1975 referendum confirming EC membership meant the UK no longer had an independent agri-food trade policy.

Analysis of Home Furnishing Marketing Based on Internet of Things in the Intelligent Environment

How to improve marketing efficiency and how to formulate scientific, effective and practical marketing strategies according to changes in the market environment are important issues facing current smart home companies. This paper adopts the analysis methods such as PEST macro model analysis method, Porter's five forces model, SWOT analysis model and STP analysis, taking Suzhou as the research object, conducts an in-depth analysis of the development environment of smart home, and clarifies the suitable smart home market. From the aspects of 6P marketing mix (product, price, channel, promotion, public relations and political rights), it proposes a Suzhou smart home marketing mix strategy based on mid-to-high-end smart home products. The research results of this paper will promote the development of the city's smart home market and have important reference value for other cities to carry out smart home marketing and can also be used as a reference for relevant government departments to formulate policies.

Furniture design based on image color extraction algorithm

With the increasing demand for personalized and customized home products, how to realize the innovative design of furniture and improve the design efficiency has become a research hotspot for related professionals. Aiming at these problems, the study extracts the main color of furniture images by optimizing the K-mean clustering algorithm, uses the simulated annealing algorithm to color-match the furniture, and reconstructs the image by edge detection to design a furniture design method based on image color extraction. The results revealed that in the foreground part, the correct rate of color match based on the design method was 95.7%, and in the background part, the correct rate of color match based on the design method was 94.81 %, which proved its effectiveness. The average feature point extraction time and the average feature point matching time of the design-based algorithm were 5.45 ms and 9.83 ms, respectively, which proved its high computational efficiency. In furniture color edge detection and overall color match, the image obtained based on the design method was significantly clearer, and the overall coherence, saturation and brightness were closer to the input image. In addition to raising the standard of furniture design, the study's design methodology increases design efficiency and offers solid technical support for the area.