FSD2041 Youth Consumer Cultures in Information Society 2001
Detailed description (collection | citation | publications)Authors
Autio, Minna (University of Helsinki. Department of Economics and Management)
Wilska, Terhi-Anna (Turku School of Economics and Business Administration. Department of Marketing)
Keywords: child labour, consumer choices, consumer habits, environmental awareness, environmentally friendly products, income, information and communications technology, information society, Internet, mobile phones, money, saving, work, young people, youth
The study is part of the Sustainable Development and the Information Society -programme (KESTY) of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. It charted the opinions of young people (aged between 16 and 20) on consumption, information society, communications technology and the environmental impacts of consumption. Respondents were also asked about their income and use of money. For example, they were asked how much money they earn themselves, how much they can save and spend on leisure activities. Parents' financial support and influence on their children's consumer decisions were probed on.
One theme covered mobile phones and information society. Respondents were asked to state how many mobile phones they have had so far and how actively they use their phone and its extra services (e.g. logos, ring tones and call transfers). Views on information technology and the development of information society were charted with a set of attitudinal statements.
Perceptions of the relationship between environment and consumption were investigated. Respondents were asked whether they buy organic, fair trade, eco-label and second-hand products and whether environmental aspects play an important role in their consumer choices and habits. General environmental attitudes were studied with different statements. Household's standard of equipment (e.g. car, digital camera, television, mobile phone) and the use of different chargeable services (movies, trips abroad, concerts, etc.) were examined.
Background variables included respondent's gender, age, location of residence, household composition, total number of siblings and number of siblings living at home, number of household members and father and mother's level of education and occupation.
