ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЦИЯ ПОТРЕБЛЕНИЯ ОСНОВНЫХ ПРОДУКТОВ ПИТАНИЯ В ГОРОДСКИХ И СЕЛЬСКИХ ДОМОХОЗЯЙСТВАХ

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present and assess changes in the level and structure of con-sumption of urban and rural households in Poland. Research method – The data used in the article were obtained from the publications of Central Sta-tistical Office on the results of household budget surveys, including the “Socio-economic situation of households, urban-rural diversity” as well as from literature on the subject. The research covered the years 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The selection of years was determined by the willingness to observe the changes that were visible in the budgets of these households after Poland had joined the European Union. The analysis applies analytical methods, including comparative and literature analyzes, as well as descriptive and monographic methods. The applied research method should be defined as a descriptive analysis with elements of quantitative analysis. Simple statistical methods were used to analyze the col-lected data. They comprised indicators of the structure of consumer spending and household con-sumption, including the food index and the index of free choice expenditures, as well as quantitative food consumption indexes, expressed in natural units, and durable goods expressed in % of house-holds being equipped with a given good. The research results are presented with the use of graphic presentation methods, especially the tabular ones. Results – Household consumption in Poland is determined by a combination of many macro and microeconomic, as well as non-economic factors. In the years 2005–2020, they affected the situation of Polish households as a certain set of factors having impact of various severity and different directions.Together, they caused changes both in the level and structure of consumer spending and in the very consumption of urban and rural households. Based on the conducted analysis, it can be concluded that in 2005–2020 the decrease in the differences between the living conditions of urban and rural house-holds, measured by their consumption expenditure and the consumption of food and non-food pro-ducts was observed. However, rural households still have a lower level of expenditure per 1 person compared to urban households. There are also differences in the structure of consumer spending. Rural households are characterized by a higher share of basic spending and a lower share of free choice expenditure. Despite the progress that has been noted, rural households are still characterized by a less rational model of food consumption and a slightly lower level of being equipped with modern ICT goods.

Water scarcity remains a growing challenge in Southeast Nigeria, where agriculture sustains both peri-urban and rural livelihoods. This study analyzed the total water footprint (WF) of agricultural households and its components, identifying major water-consuming activities in urban and rural farming households in Enugu State. A multistage sampling procedure selected 64 participants (33 urban and 31 rural households). Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, the Vester matrix, and Ordinary Least Squares regression. Results showed that the total WF of urban agricultural households (19,516.9 m3/month) was 6.6% higher than that of rural households (17,088.2 m3/month). However, the WF components revealed distinct patterns. The blue WF of rural households (40.5 m3/month) exceeded that of urban households (36.9 m3/month) by 4.7%, reflecting greater use of surface and groundwater for drinking and cooking. Conversely, the green WF of urban households (17,976.1 m3/month) was 6.0% higher than that of rural households (15,764.3 m3/month), while the gray WF, representing water used for daily domestic activities, was also higher in urban areas (1503.9 m3/month) than in rural areas (1283.4 m3/month), a 7.9% difference that was statistically significant. Farmland size significantly influenced the total WF of both urban (p < 0.01) and rural (p < 0.05) households, while household size showed weaker positive effects. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between the blue and green WFs of rural households (r = 0.82, p < 0.001). The Vester matrix identified inefficient water use in urban households and limited water-saving devices in rural households as critical drivers of water consumption. Hence, the study underscores the need for context-specific water management strategies, including the promotion of rainwater harvesting, improved irrigation efficiency, and behavior-change interventions to reduce household-level water footprints in Southeast Nigeria.

Contemporary food consumption patterns are undergoing dynamic changes influenced by globalization, urbanization, and evolving lifestyles and work models. One of the most visible trends in recent years is the growing interest in ready-to-eat meals, which are gaining popularity among both urban and rural residents. The study aimed to diagnose differences in the consumption of ready-made meals between rural and urban households from 2015 to 2023. The study drew on individual, non-identifiable data from the Household Budget Survey conducted by GUS during this period. The research revealed a continuous and significant increase in the percentage of households purchasing ready-made meals. At the beginning of the study, every second household in Poland declared buying ready-made meals, with a difference of about 14 percentage points between urban and rural households. By 2023, approximately three-quarters of households in Poland were purchasing these products, with urban households only 4 percentage points higher than rural ones. The study also noted a systematic increase in the real average expenditure on ready-made meals until 2022 (from 6.2 PLN/person/month in 2015 to 10.3 PLN in 2022 for all households). In 2015, the average expenditure on ready-made meals in urban households was twice as high as in rural ones, but these disparities decreased towards the end of the period. In 2023, urban households’ expenditure on ready-made meals was about 60% higher than that of rural households.

Food insecurity is influenced by multiple determinants including socioeconomic status, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was established to bridge the nutritional gap between low- and high-income households. Food insecurity continues to be a growing disparity among rural and urban communities in the country. Few studies analyze both rural and urban food insecurity, and none do so at the state or county levels. Therefore, we sought to understand the impact of socioeconomic factors on food insecurity in urban and rural households at the state and county levels. We examined urban and rural counties in Pennsylvania (PA), a state with moderate food insecurity rates that are consistently below the national average. We expected that the rate of food insecurity in rural counties would be higher than in urban counties. We measured the incidence of food insecurity among rural and urban households in PA. We used the predicted trends produced by the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS), based on surveys given to individuals living in rural areas. We analyzed the USDA ERS data to compare the levels of food insecurity, considering the data for low and very low food security in rural counties in PA. To measure food insecurity in the urban counties, we used data provided by the hunger-relief organization Feeding America.To assess the relationship between food insecurity between rural and urban counties, we examined the data provided by census.gov in the following categories: income, household size, family determinants (head-of-household), and government assistance. These determinants were analyzed in comparison to food insecurity from the years 2015 to 2019 in both rural and urban households. Based on our data analysis between rural and urban areas, SNAP alone is not sufficient to address levels of food insecurity in rural areas. We found that about 1 in 7 rural households receive SNAP benefits compared to about 1 in 11 urban households. Yet the food insecurity rates were still higher in rural counties than in urban counties, at 11.82% and 10.76%, respectively. Overall, more households with women heads of household receive SNAP than households with men heads of households at the county, state, and national levels. Lastly, the average income in rural counties is over $10,000 less than the average in urban counties, and almost $10,000 less than the state average. Hopefully, these results will instill a sense of urgency that will influence new policies to support both rural and urban households in different capacities to decrease the food security gap among American households. Since PA tends to be below the national average for food insecurity, we hope that this will prompt action in above-average states as well.

Does urbanization lead to more direct and indirect household carbon dioxide emissions? Evidence from China during 1996–2012

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward principles of nutrition in Iran.MethodsThe study population was Iranian households who live in rural and urban areas in all provinces of the country. The sampling method at households’ level in each province was single stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The incumbent data was collected by a structured questionnaire and through the interview with the eligible subject in each household.ResultsA total of 14,136 Iranian households were selected as total sample size, 9,149 urban households, and 4,987 rural households. Around 57.2% of urban and 49.5% of rural households was aware of food groups. Respectively in urban and rural households, about 35.1% and 39.7% had correct knowledge toward roles of food groups. Approximately 41.5% and 39.9% of households had accurate knowledge about reason of food eating in urban and rural areas, respectively. The results showed that 79.6% of them had favorable attitudes.The most of the households consumed red meat and poultry weekly whereas fish was eaten rarely. Fruits, vegetables and dairy were consumed daily in the most of households. Sugar intake was daily in the most of households and cream and butter intake was weekly.ConclusionThe most of households had moderate knowledge and good attitudes. Practice of families about food consumption was good. The results of this study can be used for proper intervention for improving of health society.

Aim: Many people, particularly those from low-income and marginalised communities, face barriers when accessing healthcare services. Therefore, this study examined the influence of household characteristics and perceived access barriers on the utilisation of outpatient services among low-income households living in urban and rural areas. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed 454 university students as proxies for low-income households. Data on household characteristics, perceived household medical needs and perceived access barriers were collected using online and printed questionnaire forms. The measure of perceived access barriers included items that represented various dimensions, including personal barriers, structural barriers, financial barriers, perceived triviality, accessibility, and time limitations. Main findings: The distance between household dwellings and public healthcare facilities as well as perceived household medical needs significantly influenced the use of outpatient care for urban and rural households. However, the influence of employment status and household size was only significant among urban households. In terms of perceived access barriers, financial barriers were found to have a negative influence on the use of outpatient services among urban households, while time limitations were strongly associated with reduced outpatient use among rural households. Perceived triviality and accessibility also exhibited statistical significance in influencing the use of outpatient services among urban and rural households, with moderate to large effect sizes. Conclusion: The findings of this study provided valuable insights into the use of outpatient services, accessibility and barriers encountered by low-income households living in urban and rural areas. Efforts to improve access are crucial in addressing health inequities and promoting a more just and equitable society.

Direct and indirect consumption activities drive distinct urban-rural inequalities in air pollution-related mortality in China

Urban–Rural heterogeneity in the effect of population ageing on the savings rate of urban and rural households in China

The aim of the study was to assess the financial situation of rural and urban households and its changes from 2015 to 2022. This evaluation was based on unidimensional values, financial situation indicators, and the value of a synthetic indicator determined using the multidimensional TOPSIS method. The data source was individual, non-identifiable data from the “Household budget survey” conducted by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) from 2015 to 2022. It was found that during the examined period, the financial situation of rural households was rated lower than that of urban households. In the pre-COVID-19 period, i.e., from 2015 to 2019, there was a significant improvement in the financial situation of both rural households (rating from low to medium-low) and urban households (rating from medium-high to high). During the pandemic period, i.e., from 2020 to 2022, the financial situation of rural households deteriorated slightly and was rated as medium-low. On the other hand, in urban households, slight improvements and declines in their financial situation were observed alternatively over the subsequent years.

One of the sources for the formation of Bulgaria's food resources is the production of food products from agriculture and the food industry. It provides raw materials for the processing industry, for export and for meeting the food needs of society. The extent to which national production can meet these needs in terms of quantity, quality and range largely determines national food security. The level and structure of food consumption is in turn important for the health status of both the individual and the nation as a whole. In recent years, the production and consumption of food products in the country have been evolving in a complex and dynamically changing environment, linked to challenges posed by overlapping crises (pandemic, economic). The aim of this paper is to examine the production and consumption of staple food products in the context of national food security and in the context of crises. For its realization, changes in the parameters of their production and consumption are consistently assessed, problems are highlighted on this basis and recommendations for their future development are substantiated. Special attention is paid to the competitiveness and sustainable development of Bulgarian agriculture as an important prerequisite for the country's food security.

CO2 emissions caused by household consumption have become one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Studying household CO2 emissions (HCEs) is of great significance to energy conservation and emissions reduction. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed the direct and indirect CO2 emissions by urban and rural households in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing. The results show that urban total HCEs are larger than rural total HCEs for the four megacities. Urban total per capita household CO2 emissions (PHCEs) are larger than rural total PHCEs in Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing, while rural total PHCEs in Shanghai are larger than urban total PHCEs. Electricity and hot water production and supply was the largest contributor of indirect HCEs for both rural and urban households. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing outsourced a large amount of indirect CO2 emissions to their neighboring provinces.

ABSTRACTMost studies on child language acquisition occur in the minority world (countries which make up the minority of the world's population). Their findings are not generalizable to majority‐world contexts, where the majority of the world's population lives. The limited research in the latter contexts reveals the presence of differing child language socialization practices, not generalizable across Global South contexts, and that socio‐economic status (SES) and geographic location (rural/urban) can affect these practices. This study examined the language input to 5‐month‐olds in a low‐SES, Afrikaans‐speaking community in South Africa. Half of the 10 participating households were urban‐situated and half rural‐situated. Each home had a 1‐h video recording of household members interacting naturally with and around the infant; these recordings were transcribed and coded in ELAN. The amount of child‐directed speech (CDS) and number of (a) different utterance types, and (b) instances of contingent speech were determined. CDS comprised 76% of all utterances. Although there were no significant differences between urban and rural households when all CDS was considered collectively, more questions were directed at rural than urban infants, and more instances of speaking on behalf of the child occurred in the case of rural infants: in each recording, caregivers used “typical” CDS features (higher pitch, repetition, etc.) to speak in the first person but on behalf of infants, an infrequently reported phenomenon in CDS research. The types and number of utterances and the amount of CDS used did not pattern as reported by scholars for other low‐SES, majority‐world communities.

Key differences between urban and rural populations can influence the adoption and impacts of new cooking technologies and fuels. We examine these differences among urban and rural households that are part of the REACCTING study in Northern Ghana. While urban and rural populations in the study area all use multiple stoves, the types of stoves and fuels differ, with urban participants more likely to use charcoal and LPG while rural households rely primarily on wood. Further, rural and urban households tend to use different stoves/fuels to cook the same dishes—for example, the staple porridge Tuo Zaafi (TZ) is primarily cooked over wood fires in rural areas and charcoal stoves in urban settings. This suggests that fuel availability and ability to purchase fuel may be a stronger predictor of fuel choice than cultural preferences alone. Ambient concentrations of air pollutants also differ in these two types of areas, with urban areas having pollutant hot spots to which residents can be exposed and rural areas having more homogeneous and lower pollutant concentrations. Further, exposures to carbon monoxide and particulate matter differ in magnitude and in timing between urban and rural study participants, suggesting different behaviors and sources of exposures. The results from this analysis highlight important disparities between urban and rural populations of a single region and imply that such a characterization is needed to successfully implement and assess the impacts of household energy interventions.

To shed light on the debate over the effect of infrastructure investment on household consumption, this paper uses rural and urban household consumption data from the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP) to analyse how infrastructure development affects the marginal spending behaviour of households. We find that although infrastructure stock crowds in total consumption, the effects of infrastructure development on sub‐categories of consumption differ considerably between the rural sample and the urban sample. Specifically, infrastructure development promotes urban households' spending on infrastructure‐based goods, and generates more spillover effects on rural households as indicated by the marginal consumption pattern shifting from necessities to more luxurious goods. Heterogeneity analyses show that the effect of infrastructure development is stronger in households with higher income and with a younger head.