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Investigation of Some Connections Between the Coronavirus Epidemic and “Acquisition Fever” in Győr
89-101Views:287The birth of this publication was generated by the events of today. In the light of the research (and the literature data), it can be stated that the coronavirus epidemic that appeared in Hungary in the spring of 2020 caused panic shopping, and the freedom of choice (abundance of goods) was again replaced by consumer vulnerability like before the years of regime change. The analysis shows that 75 percent of those over the age of 60, while only 62 percent of the members of the youngest age group think it is worth piling up. It is also interesting to note that the main reason for over-buying is the creation of a contingency reserve. Larger store types, mostly with a wide range of goods, were well suited for this. Also, 33,2 % of respondents thought they had bought more to reduce the number of shopping trips (and thus presumably to slow down the spread of the virus).
JEL Classification: M31, H12
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Changes in Health Behaviour Factors in Response to COVID-19
17-30Views:490The coronavirus pandemic caused profound changes in many aspects of people's lives, especially in the area of health behaviour. The restrictions caused by the pandemic have had negative effects on both the physical and mental health of society, while also transforming the way individuals exercise. The aim of our research was to analyse the changes in health behaviour of Hungarian adults, including their sporting habits as well as their mental health, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also focused on comparing the experiences of a population that regularly participates in sport and a population that rarely or never participates in sport. Results of the survey showed that individuals who regularly participate in sport activities rated their general physical health significantly better than those living a more sedentary life. More than half of the sample stated that they did not experience any particular change in their physical health, but the second highest percentage of respondents reported that their health had been affected negatively by the pandemic period. Results also showed that almost half of respondents said that their sporting habits had not changed as a result of the pandemic, while many reported that their sporting frequency had decreased. Finally, we also analysed the changes in sporting habits with regard to the place of residence, finding that those individuals living in an apartment complex building were most likely to choose a different type of exercise from the one they had previously practised, while a higher proportion of individuals living in a suburban area, or with access to garden reported that they had started to doing sports.Our research provided partial confirmation that the pandemic had a negative effect on people's health behaviour, but given the high levels of exercise in the target group,it is not surprising that many did not experience any change in sporting habits or physical health.
JEL Code: I12
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport Habits
49-63Views:523In recent times, our daily lives have been significantly affected and transformed by the coronavirus pandemic that will hit our country in March 2020. Following the outbreak, the WHO (World Health Organisation) advised its Member States to consider ways to prevent the introduction of the disease into new areas and to reduce the human-to-human spread in areas where the virus has already been detected. In the initial period, people's "freedom" was severely restricted as a consequence of the restrictive measures taken to slow down/control the spread of the virus. In addition to telecommuting, closing restaurants, educational institutions, entertainment venues, sports facilities, shopping malls, curfews have become part of our daily lives. The protection of human life and health has suddenly become one of the most important "tasks". Despite the closure of sports facilities in order to reduce personal contact, physical activity has become even more important than before, as it has become even more important to keep our bodies healthy during the epidemic period. When the virus emerged, the Operational Committee recommended that we try to do as much exercise as possible to strengthen our immune system so that it can fight off pathogens as effectively as possible. However, the restrictive measures taken in response to the virus have also had a major impact on our exercise and sporting habits, which has since attracted the interest of many researchers. In my research, I am looking for answers to the question of how the epidemic has changed people's habits/willingness to take part in sport and active physical activity. In the last few months, almost all precautionary measures against the epidemic have been abolished in Hungary, with one or two exceptions. For this reason, I also consider it appropriate to assess the extent to which the virus has affected sporting habits, not only during the period of restrictions, but also after the lifting of restrictions.
JEL Codes: I10, I12 -
Changes in Food Purchasing Habits During the Covid Pandemic in Slovakia and Hungary, Focus on Southern Slovakia and Western Hungary
55-70Views:1263The global pandemic of COVID-19 has led to many drastic changes worldwide, not only in the economy, but amongst others, in the structure of people’s daily routines as well. Some developments have been involuntary – as social distancing, wearing masks, restrictions on travel, etc., but for others, it has merely accelerated the adoption of behaviors already gaining traction, such as the digitalization of shopping and more. Consequences of subsequent lockdowns and their effect on the consumers’ grocery purchasing habits and their implications for food retail had been investigated in our research with a particular focus on regions of South Slovakia and West Hungary in a period ranging from November 2020 till April 2021. The constructed online questionnaire chosen for data collection aimed to identify specific ways in which consumers changed their grocery shopping behavior during the lockdown (e.g., frequency of shopping trips, time spent in stores, the aim of shopping, purchase of ingredients, online shopping). The results of the online questionnaire underlined the main regional differences between the two countries. The overall outcome of our research showed the moderate reduction in grocery shopping frequency, minor changes in shopping location and partially increase in online shopping. Our results showed that although the proportion of online purchases has increased, such a crisis does not seem to be sufficient to overcome barriers to shopping, such as the purchase of a new, unknown product. But changes that provide positive experiences are likely to last longer, particularly those driven by convenience and well-being, such as digital adoption, value-based purchasing, and increased health awareness. This provides an opportunity for companies to offer innovative, value-based, and integrated products or services to meet customer needs. Companies and retailers will need to adapt fast, understand consumers’ preferences, and stay relevant.
JEL Codes: D12, D91
