A Study on the Propensity to Consume and Housing Characteristics According to Life Cycle

생활주기(life cycle)에 따른 소비성향 및 주거관련 특성에 관한 연구

This study aims to identify the propensity to consume and housing characteristics according to life cycle as the main independent variable. It also tries to understand the consumption power and housing style of each cycle and analyze whether there are differences between each life cycle, ultimately aiming to match the propensity to consume and housing style with each cycle. For empirical analysis, on and off-line surveys of 488 people were collected and analyzed by cross analysis, factor analysis and analysis of variance. The prime research findings are as follows: First of all, factor analysis on propensity to consume showed four main sub-factors as rational consumption, conspicuous consumption, trend consumption, and status consumption. Secondly, current and preferred housing styles ranked from modern, natural, casual, classic and romantic, which proved that people are currently housed in preferred housing styles. Thirdly, in case of housing-related characteristics of life cycles, the size of the house increased as the levels progressed, and then decreased at level 6 when the children grew into adulthood. The majority of the population was paying a monthly rent, a few were leasing, and a very few owned their housing. 58% were living in apartments, but in levels 1-2, more were living in row houses and high-rise residential buildings, while in level 6 it was detached houses. Fourthly, the propensity to consume according to life cycle tended to shift from conspicuous and trend-based consumption to rational consumption as the cycles progressed. Fifthly, the preferred housing styles were modern and natural styles, regardless of life cycle. These study results can be applied to product development and marketing activities based on their accurate analysis of customers' needs, which can thus bring further customer satisfaction.