Differences in the Standard of Living of Households Representing Various Social-Economic Groups and Sizes

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to assess the standard of living of Polish households in 2006 according to their size and division into socio-economic categories. To measure it a synthetic indicator based on the TOPSIS method was used. The conducted analysis revealed significant differences in the standard of living of individual households. The highest standard of living characterised the households of self-employed persons, which had up to five members, and the households of employed persons, which had not more than two members. In turn, the lowest standard of living was observed in the two-member households of farmers and in the many-member households of retired persons and disability pensioners. Significant disparities in the level of satisfaction of needs relating to individual goods and services may cause differences in the behaviour of individuals, lead to social marginalisation and the emergence of pathological groups that have no chances for proper participation in social life