Sustainable Consumption Consciousness and Middle-Income Class Affiliation: Theory and Evidence from Poland

Abstract

The paper examines the links between the consciousness of sustainable consumption (CSC) and middle-income class affiliation. It contributes to two contemporarily important issues, namely sustainable consumption and the role of the middle-income class in sustainable development from the perspective of the economic processes in a post-socialist state. Considering consumption as the determinant for socioeconomic stratification, it is assumed that sustainable consumption consciousness is positively related to income-class affiliation. In the present study, two econometric models, namely logit models, were estimated regarding differences between objective and subjective middle-income class affiliations. The study is based on data collected in the middle-income class in Poland in 2021. The results of the study showed that the probability of sustainable consumption consciousness is higher when individuals classify themselves as lower middle-income class based on their cognitive frame, not knowing what the income thresholds for the income classes in Poland are. It means that subjective evaluation of one’s material position matters for sustainable consumption consciousness more than objective class belonging. As economic policy recommendations, it is suggested that educational programs be designed to inform people about income class thresholds to avoid devaluation of their income situation as well as dedicated actions to develop discernment about sustainable consumption behaviors.