The role of shopping in human life in 2021

Introduction: Society today is overly overwhelmed with advertisements for attractive products and ways to purchase them. The population is becoming richer and richer, which means they can spend more money on entertainment and their own pleasures. Purpose: To present the role of shopping in human life in 2021 from the perspective of consumers. Material and method: The study was carried out using the author's questionnaire. 260 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Results: Men (52.3%) and women (47.7%) participated in the study. More than half of them (53.8%) were employed and more than 30% were studying. One in three respondents earned cash income greater than the minimum national gross rate. Nearly 60% rated their material situation as good. The analysis showed knowledge of the term "consumerism" by 83.1% of people. The study showed that the respondents shopped several times a week (69.2%) and even daily (18.5%). In order to buy food products, they usually visited supermarkets (64.6%), and in buying products they were most often guided by quality (47.7%). They are most encouraged by sales (50.8%), as well as recommendations from friends (18.5%) and product ingredients (12.6%). The data shows that as many as 58.5% of respondents used shopping to improve their mood. They were also induced to buy products by advertisements in the media (49.2%). Conclusions: For consumers, apart from the price, the quality of the products is of primary importance. They buy mainly in large supermarkets and via the Internet. The advertisements in media, promotions and the desire to improve one’s mood are the reasons of increasing phenomenon of consumerism.

METHODICAL APPROACHES TO FORMATION OF TARIFF POLICY IN THE AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE SPHERE

The article substantiates the methodological approaches to the formation of a balanced tariff policy for agricultural insurance services. The outlined approaches are based on methodological principles, which together are focused on achieving holistic guidelines (moral and ethical, socio-psychological, financial and economic) in the relationship between the insurance market stakeholders. The functioning of the insurance protection effective system of agricultural producers while ensuring a sufficient profitability level of insurance operations, requires scientific detail of the pricing mechanism for insurance services. The observance necessity of methodological sequence in the process of actuarial calculations for agricultural insurance services is argued. This sequence involves the following measures: providing access to information sources for assessing agricultural risks and deciding on insurance; processing of statistical data on specific objects of insurance, (in particular, assessing the probability of an insured event and agreeing on key conditions for the transfer of agricultural risks to insurance) the calculation of the full tariff rate (gross rate). The formulated measures are necessary from the standpoint of ensuring information awareness of insurance companies regarding the accepted insurance risks, assessing the probability of insurance risks and possible compensation payments, as well as the economic feasibility of the insurance rate (gross rate) and its components net rate and load. The economic-mathematical interpretation of insurance tariffs related to insurance of natural and climatic risks is carried out. In particular, using actuarial calculations, the rates of insurance tariffs in the insurance of crops (winter wheat, rye, winter barley and rapeseed) for the autumn-winter and spring-summer periods are reflected. The presented calculations can be used by insurance companies specializing in the provision of agricultural risk insurance services. According to the results of the study, the actor’ proposals aimed at ensuring the actuarial balance of stakeholders in the agricultural insurance market are presented.

Modelling the effect of curves on distance running performance

Background On a curve, the average axial leg force (Fa) of a runner is increased due to the need to exert centripetal force. The increased Fa presumably requires a greater rate of metabolic energy expenditure than straight running at the same velocity. We propose a model that explains the velocity reduction on curves, compared to straight running, assuming that runners maintain a constant metabolic rate. Methods We combined published equations to estimate the change in the rate of gross metabolic energy expenditure as a function of Fa, where Fa depends on curve radius and velocity, with an equation for the gross rate of oxygen uptake as a function of velocity. We compared performances between straight courses and courses with different curve radii and geometries. Results The differences between our model predictions and the actual indoor world records, are between 0.45 % in 3000 m and 1.78 % in the 1500 m for males, and 0.59 % in the 5000 m and 1.76 % in the 3000 m for females. We estimate thata 2:01:39 marathon on a 400 m track, corresponds to 2:01:32 on a straight path and to 2:02:00 on a 200 m track. Conclusion Our model predicts that compared to straight racecourses, the increased time due to curves, is notable for smaller curve radii and for faster velocities. But, for larger radii and slower speeds, the time increase is negligible and the general perception of the magnitude of the effects of curves on road racing performance is not supported by our calculations.

Modelling the effect of curves on distance running performance

Background On a curve, the average axial leg force (Fa) of a runner is increased due to the need to exert centripetal force. The increased Fa presumably requires a greater rate of metabolic energy expenditure than straight running at the same velocity. We propose a model that explains the velocity reduction on curves, compared to straight running, assuming that runners maintain a constant metabolic rate. Methods We combined published equations to estimate the change in the rate of gross metabolic energy expenditure as a function of Fa, where Fa depends on curve radius and velocity, with an equation for the gross rate of oxygen uptake as a function of velocity. We compared performances between straight courses and courses with different curve radii and geometries. Results The differences between our model predictions and the actual indoor world records, are between 0.45 % in 3000 m and 1.78 % in the 1500 m for males, and 0.59 % in the 5000 m and 1.76 % in the 3000 m for females. We estimate thata 2:01:39 marathon on a 400 m track, corresponds to 2:01:32 on a straight path and to 2:02:00 on a 200 m track. Conclusion Our model predicts that compared to straight racecourses, the increased time due to curves, is notable for smaller curve radii and for faster velocities. But, for larger radii and slower speeds, the time increase is negligible and the general perception of the magnitude of the effects of curves on road racing performance is not supported by our calculations.

Optimising the linear electron transport rate measured by chlorophyll a fluorescence to empirically match the gross rate of oxygen evolution in white light: towards improved estimation of the cyclic electron flux around photosystem I in leaves

The cyclic electron flux (CEF) around photosystem I (PSI) was discovered in isolated chloroplasts more than six decades ago, but its quantification has been hampered by the absence of net formation of a product or net consumption of a substrate. We estimated in vivo CEF in leaves as the difference (ΔFlux) between the total electron flux through PSI (ETR1) measured by a near infrared signal, and the linear electron flux through both photosystems by optimised measurement of chlorophyll a fluorescence (LEFfl). Chlorophyll fluorescence was excited by modulated green light from a light-emitting diode at an optimal average irradiance, and the fluorescence was detected at wavelengths >710 nm. In this way, LEFfl matched the gross rate of oxygen evolution multiplied by 4 (LEFO2) in broad-spectrum white actinic irradiance up to half (spinach, poplar and rice) or one third (cotton) of full sunlight irradiance. This technique of estimating CEF can be applied to leaves attached to a plant.

Indirect Costs and Discounting in Health Care Decision-Making: The Role of Distortionary Taxation

Two important unresolved issues in the evaluation of health care programs are the treatment of indirect costs and the selection of the appropriate discount rate. This paper emphasizes the role of distortionary taxation in addressing these issues. It establishes that: (i) indirect government-paid costs should be treated differently from indirect privately-paid costs; (ii) direct and indirect government costs of a health program should be discounted by the gross rate of return, while consumers' monetary valuations of the program's effects, less direct private costs, should be discounted at the net rate of return; and (iii) the present value of total government costs should be multiplied by a marginal cost of funds before it is comparable to the present value of net private benefits.