Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Consumer Credit Market in V4 Countries

The aim of this article is to analyse and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumer credit market in the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4, i.e., the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary). There is no doubt that the pandemic has determined the amount of household debt due to consumer credit in the V4 group, and thus the question arises of how the pandemic affects the propensity of households to take out loans and the propensity to lend to them, and therefore whether it affects both the behaviour of borrowers and lenders. The study used the time series and multiple linear regression methods. The results of the study show that the Covid-19 pandemic has determined the level of household debt in the V4 group and is not indifferent to household decisions regarding taking out consumer loans. Although the research is preliminary, it has contributed to some extent to a better understanding of household indebtedness at a time of turbulence and instability resulting from health factors in V4 countries. In the future, this research will serve as the basis for future research on the phenomenon of household indebtedness in other countries.

Partisan Fertility and Presidential Elections

Changes in political leadership drive large changes in economic optimism. We exploit the surprise 2016 election of Trump to identify the effects of a shift in political power on one of the most consequential household decisions: whether to have a child. Republican-leaning counties experience a sharp and persistent increase in fertility relative to Democratic counties: a 1.1 to 2.6 percentage point difference in annual births, depending on the intensity of partisanship. In addition, Hispanics see fertility fall relative to non-Hispanics, especially compared to rural or evangelical whites. Further, following Trump pre-election campaign visits, relative Hispanic fertility declines.

Tradeoffs between fertility and child development attributes: evidence from coral bleaching in Indonesia

Coral bleaching is associated with large income shocks and a substantial decrease in protein consumption among the affected fishery households in Indonesia [Chaijaroen (2019) Long-lasting income shocks and adaptations: evidence from coral bleaching in Indonesia. Journal of Development Economics136, 119–136]. According to the health and economics literature, early childhood exposures to shocks such as those from coral bleaching can have long-lasting effects on health, schooling, and other later-life outcomes. This paper explores how the mass coral bleaching in 1998 affected household decisions on fertility and child development. Using the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) and a triple differences approach, results from 2000 suggest an increase in fertility and an increased likelihood of severe childhood stunting among the affected households. For comparison, rainfall shocks are associated with a decrease in fertility and smaller adverse effects on child health and schooling outcomes. This study suggests that the effects of coral bleaching might have been underestimated, and our findings yield more targeted policy recommendations on climate shock mitigation.

FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CONSUMER FINANCIAL WELL-BEING IN GHANA: ANY NEXUS WITH MARCO-ECONOMIC STABILITY?

Despite daily efforts to deal with life's economic issues, most Ghanaians are financially vulnerable. This has made pursuing lifelong ambitions more difficult. Given these realities, it is reasonable to believe that financial literacy and consumer financial stability will be a successful strategy for promoting economic stability. Financial literacy is pivotal for making informed financial decisions at both the household and macroeconomic levels. Although disputable, a high human development index score indicates a country's population is in good health, knowledgeable, and has a better standard of living. As a result, linking household decisions to broader policy outcomes becomes increasingly vital. This research aims to find a link between financial literacy and consumer financial stability as well as their relationship with macroeconomic stability.

FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CONSUMER FINANCIAL WELL-BEING IN GHANA: ANY NEXUS WITH MARCO-ECONOMIC STABILITY?

Despite daily efforts to deal with life's economic issues, most Ghanaians are financially vulnerable. This has made pursuing lifelong ambitions more difficult. Given these realities, it is reasonable to believe that financial literacy and consumer financial stability will be a successful strategy for promoting economic stability. Financial literacy is pivotal for making informed financial decisions at both the household and macroeconomic levels. Although disputable, a high human development index score indicates a country's population is in good health, knowledgeable, and has a better standard of living. As a result, linking household decisions to broader policy outcomes becomes increasingly vital. This research aims to find a link between financial literacy and consumer financial stability as well as their relationship with macroeconomic stability.

The Role of Socio-Economic Factors in Determining the Women Bargaining Power in Pakistan

Purpose:In recent times, women’s status has been upgraded through an increase in socio-economic factors, which had implications in determining their bargaining power. The bargaining process produces household decisions which usually consist of unequal bargaining power. This study investigating the socio-economic factors through which female education and income change their bargaining power at the household. Design/Methodology/Approach:For this purpose, a primary survey through a questionnaire has administered in different areas of Punjab, Pakistan. We have collected the data 200 working married women OLS ordinary least square model has been applied to estimate our results. Findings:The result of the study shows that the socio-economic factors has significant and positive role in determining the women bargaining power within and outside the household. Higher income and education not only enhance their bargaining power in decision-making within and outside the household but also increase the status of women in society. Implications/Originality/Value:Oursociety needs to change their prospective towards women by removing these obstacles and giving them freedom of voice and choice, so they can lead their life according to their will. Changing such social norms through education will create better position for women in the household as well in society.

Exploring Symbolic Meaning in Landscaping Choices within a Desert City

Metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert, provides an excellent opportunity to understand residents’ preferences for desert-adapted xeric landscaping. While much is known about the relationships between sociodemographics and broad environmental values on xeric landscaping choices, the influence of other variables remains unexplored, especially interactions with and attachments to the desert. We therefore examined the influences of recreational visits to local desert mountain parks and symbolic meanings associated with the native desert on household xeric landscaping preferences. Within a larger study, select questions captured socio-demographics, visitation to desert parks and open spaces, place identity, and xeric landscape preferences. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, we confirmed that homeownership and a shorter residency predicted preference for xeric landscapes. Hispanics were less likely to prefer xeric landscaping. Interestingly, the novel factor of identity with the desert significantly and positively predicted xeric landscaping preference while visitation to desert parks and open spaces did not. Findings provide several important management implications. First, Phoenix has an opportunity to foster connections with the surrounding environment through its extensive desert mountain parks. Increasing connections between residents and the parks may help shift personal preferences to xeric yard types. Park managers might also work to further stress how household decisions can affect the desert environment. Second, park visitation alone may not suffice to create connections with the desert environment. Instead, park managers should focus on creating opportunities for visitors to recognize the unique, living aspects of the parks and build personal relationships with the ecosystem. Interpretation encouraging emotional connections to the desert environment may aid in fostering an identity with the desert. In addition, messaging and signage campaigns that link people to the parks may prove a novel way of combatting lawn water usage within desert cities. Given their opportunities to foster place identity, urban parks may be important influencers in promoting native plant landscaping. In conclusion, connecting people to their surrounding environments can influence preferences for similar landscape types at the household level.

Drivers and Barriers of Households’ Carsharing Decisions

Based on a survey of 2,106 individuals, this study aims to get a better understanding of the attitudes toward carsharing in Flanders, Belgium. Several drivers and barriers that influence household decisions to participate in a carsharing system are identified. An ordinal logit model reveals that highly educated, younger males with high ecological concerns are more likely to share cars. It is shown that living in a rural environment or owning a company car are important barriers. A parking policy aimed at discouraging private car use while stimulating sustainable mobility choices appears to be an interesting avenue for future research.