The Effects of Power on Financial Aspirations and Expenditures in Poland and the UK

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 4, Issue: 2, pp. 41-58

Date: 28 October 2013

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract: This paper presents two experiments conducted in UK and Poland on how different positions in a hierarchy of power may affect financial aspirations and declared expenditures. The authors also tried to determine whether there are any cultural differences within these relationships. The results indicate that both groups, Polish and British, show an effect of being above average as far as financial aspirations are concerned. Moreover, power appears t o influence investment and education in the Polish group (experiment 1) and expenditures on entertainment in the British group (experiment 2). The results also show differences in financial aspirations between the two groups. The British expected to earn more money than the Polish and have more expensive automobiles. Additionally, the British declared higher expenditures on housing, family, and friends, as well as clothes and cosmetics, whereas Polish declared higher expenditure on entertainment and day-to-day needs.

Keywords: power, financial aspirations, savings, Poland, UK.