Przemiany praktyk konsumpcyjnych w gospodarstwach domowych w pierwszych miesiącach pandemii COVID-19

Abstract

The aim of the text is to analyze the changes in household consumption and spending due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. These changes resulted from the necessity to adapt to the existing pandemic restrictions and new forms of the functioning of the economy and of the labor market. The analyzes presented in the text are based on the diary research material (448 diaries) obtained in the „Everyday life in the time of coronavirus” contest. We focus our analyzes on the following three threads: (1) observations and experiences of panic buying and identification of a crisis situation experienced in the first weeks of lockdown; (2) experiencing disrupted routine and the need to change the consumer basket and the way of shopping; (3) changes in the subjectively perceived comfort of consumption in the context of social comparison. We show that the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had the greatest impact on reducing consumption, although they were unevenly distributed, both due to the financial situation of memoir writers and to the particular categories of consumed goods and services. By lowering the level of consumption, the Covid-19 made it more thoughtful and reflexive. At the same time, the pandemic made the housing living space gain new functions, thus converted it into an „Oikos” – a universe of all household activities and a center of consumption practices.

Food prosumption in households in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

“…The pandemic caused consumers to pay more attention to prosumer behavior. The experience of previous crises shows that in a difficult economic situation, families introduce appropriate finance management, increase the number of income earners and look for savings in reducing consumption, giving up services or replacing them with prosumption (Olcoń-Kubicka et al, 2021).…”

Zachowania Prosumenckie Związane Z Prowadzeniem Gospodarstwa Domowego W Ocenie Respondentów W Okresie Pandemii Covid-19 W Polsce

“…Prosumption allows minimisation of the effects of inflation and helps to protect the level of fulfilment of needs, especially dur-ing a crisis [Szul, 2013]. The development of self-supply of goods and services in the household is stimulated by a scarcity of goods on the market, low quality or high prices [Murawska and D ugosz, 2018]. Prosumer behaviour in a household, according to Nowak [2002], is primarily the production of food for ones own use and the performance of household chores related to running a house, including washing, ironing, cooking etc.…”

“…One of the key factors defining peoples lifestyles is consumption, which there has been a great deal of recently. The pandemic accelerated or changed many consumer trends [Olco -Kubicka et al, 2021]. Recently, some households have even returned to nature, consuming food products they have produced them-selves, due to the nutritional value of such food, concern for the health of family members and concern for the natural environment and food safety.…”