Title: Consumerism vs. sustainability: the emergence of new consumer trends in Poland

Authors: Bogdan Mroz

Addresses: Warsaw School of Economics, Al. Niepodleglosci, 162, 02-554 Warszawa, Poland

Abstract: The emergence of market economy in Poland has created fertile ground for the development of consumerism. After decades of living in shortage economy environment Polish consumers have plunged into magic, colourful world of consumption. The basic objective of the paper is to determine if consumption patterns and consumer behaviour of Poles under new, market-driven economic regime are compatible with the tenets of sustainable consumption promoted by European Union (EU) agencies and international institutions. To this end the author conducted questionnaire research among Polish consumers in Warsaw; its findings are presented and interpreted in the paper.

Keywords: consumerism; consumption patterns; sustainable consumption; consumer trends; consumer behaviour; Poland; market economy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2010.032791

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.1 - 15

Published online: 22 Apr 2010 *

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