In Slovakia, data on young people's preferences that could support the development of data-based or evidence-based public policies are not available. Similarly, there is a lack of appropriate metrics and tools for identifying these preferences. The project therefore focuses on developing a methodology for conducting behavioural experiments to identify young people's preferences in the areas of housing, employment, and commuting to work (transport mobility).

The project builds on 12 years of previous internal research involving approximately 1,100 respondents. It will compare the findings of this research with the results of the behavioural experiments conducted within the proposed project. At the same time, it will examine differences in preferences according to age (Generations X, Y, and Z) and respondents' place of permanent residence (municipality, district, or region).

The project will also analyse whether and to what extent the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced changes in young people's preferences, particularly in relation to the increased prevalence of working from home and remote work. Given the relatively high number of young people from Ukraine studying in Slovakia, the project will also make it possible to identify differences between Slovak and international students.

The project outcomes will be relevant to policymakers, particularly in the areas of housing and employment policies, as well as to the development of regional strategic documents, including those addressing transport mobility.

The main objective of the project is to develop and test a methodology based on the principles of behavioural economics to identify young people's preferences in the areas of housing, employment, and transport. Based on these findings, the project aims to formulate recommendations for the preparation of strategic documents and public policies concerning housing, employment, transport mobility, and regional development.

The project is implemented in cooperation with Comenius University Bratislava, the University of Žilina, and the Technical University of Košice.

1. Murray Svidroňová, M., Jakuš Muthová, N. (eds.). (2027). Behavioral Economics in Public Policy: Insights from Central and Eastern Europe. https://www.waterstones.com/book/behavioral-economics-in-public-policy/m-ria-murray-svidro-ov/nikoleta-jaku-muthov/9783032428578

2. Jakuš Muthová, N., Murray Svidroňová, M., Kubák, M. (2026). Behaviorálne intervencie vo verejnom sektore. Belianum : vydavateľstvo UMB.

3. Murray Svidroňová, M., Ermasová, N. (eds.). (2026). Non-Profit and Non-Governmental Organizations in Multi-Level Governance: Role and Performance. ISBN: 978-1-80631-558-1.

1. Cole, D., & Murray Svidroňová, M. (2026). The rural versus urban voting preferences using liquid and solid modernity as a framing device. Public Money & Management, 1-11.

2. Volosin, P., Koren, T., & Kubak, M. (2026). A six-dimensional review of the EU's smart city agenda in practice. EM Economics & Management/EM Ekonomie a Management, 29(3), 22. DOI: 10.15240/tul/001/2026-3-002

3. Murray Svidroňová, M., Jakuš Muthová, N. (2026). Consumer Preferences for Packaging in Food Service: Evidence from a Behavioral Intervention. Food and Humanity. https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S2949-8244(26)00436-2

4. Nemec, M., M. Meričková, B., M. Svidroňová, M., & Nemec, J. (2026). Benefits, drivers, and barriers of the school fruit and vegetables scheme in Slovakia. Health Education Journal, 00178969261442782.

5. Murray Svidroňová, M., Kožiak, R., & Gubalová, J. (2026). Quality of Life in Commuting Zones in Slovakia in the Context of Local and Regional Development. NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, 19(1), 244-263.

6. Malý, I., Mikušová Meričková, B., Murray Svidroňová, M., & Jakuš Muthová, N. (2025). Public Administration and Youth: Study of Value Orientation. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 15236803251392710.

7. Cole, D., Svidroňová, M. M., & Muthová, N. J. (2025). Rural versus urban living: Gens Y and Z in Slovakia. Cities, 161, 105927.

8. Seberini, A., Tokovska, M., Murray Svidroňová, M., & Gubalová, J. (2025). Life's trajectory: aid, support and humanitarian efforts for Ukrainian refugees. Policy Studies, 1-21.

9. Hynek, N., Gavurova, B., Kubak, M., & Senk, M. (2025). Public acceptance of autonomous and remotely piloted drones in civil and military domains: Socioeconomic, political, and safety correlates. Oeconomia Copernicana, 16(3), 1295-1352. https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.3640

10. Koreň T., Gajniak O., Kubák, M. (2024). On Relative Success in Obtaining Grants for Smart Cities in the European Union and on the Cost of the Outcome. Slovak Journal of Civil Engineering, Volume 32 (2024): Issue 1 (March 2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjce-2024-0004

1. Murray Svidroňová, M., Jakuš Muthová, N. (2026). Rational use of antibiotics in healthcare: behavioural analysis and design of an information intervention. The 6th V4 Public Health Conference - Healthy Horizons: Exploring Innovations in Public Health. 9 - 11 September 2026, Tatranska Lomnica, High Tatras, Slovakia.

2. Seberíni, A., Kuráková, I. (2026). Postoje mladej generácie k práci, mobilite a podnikaniu: implikácie pre dizajn alternatívnych foriem zamestnávania v kontexte Industry 4.0/5.0. In Právne a pracovnoprávne prekážky zamestnávania na zahraničnom trhu – od outsourcingu k EOR. Wolters Kluwer SR, 2026, s. 265–289. ISBN 978-80-571-0868-9.

3. Hrušovská, T., Koreň, T., Kubák, M., Nemec, J. (2025). Employment Preferences of Slovak Economics Students in Domestic and Foreign Labour Markets. In proceedings of ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS 2025 SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS IN TIMES OF GLOBAL INSTABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY. https://managerconf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EMB-2025-Conference-proceedings.pdf

4. Gogola, M. (2025). Students vs. Professors: Perception of Transport Mode Choice Factors at Slovak Universities. In International Scientific conferece „Transport of the 21st Century“. Eds. M. Siergiejczyk & A. Rosinski. Warsaw , 2025, pp. 98. https://www.transport21.pw.edu.pl/

5. Gogola, M. (2025). Students' attitudes toward sustainable transportation: environmental concern or practical need? A Slovak case study. In SGEM Vienna GREEN 2025. https://www.sgemviennagreen.org/index.php/sgemviennagreen-deadlines/plenary-programme

6. Klimovský, D. (2025). Municipal self-governments in Slovakia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: fast reactions, quick adaptation, limited capacities, and reform impetus. "Conference of the International Institute of Administrative Science (IIAS)" (Bharat Mandapam, Naí Dillí, India), 10. - 14. 2. 2025.

7. Murray Svidroňová, M., Kubák, M. (2025). Employment or business: what Slovak young adults prefer as their future career? In „The International Conference on Entrepreneurial Motivation“ https://www.resocem.com/icem-conference/

8. Gogola, M. (2025). Measuring the stress of cyclists in the traffic using eye-tracking technology. In Velo-city 2025 conference „Delivering the Urban Dream“. https://www.velo-city-conference.com/en/programme/speakers/marian-gogola/

9. Koren, T., Kubak, M. (2024). Change drivers as key success factors in European research and innovation projects. Journal of Management and Business: Research and Practice, 16(1). doi:10.54933/jmbrp-2024-16-1-4.

10. Gogola M., Senko Š., Mikušová M. (2024). Finding the correlation between transport infrastructure and the fatal accident rate of cyclists - an international perspective. In 14th International Science & Technical Conference AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY 24-26 April 2024 Sandomierz (PL) 14th Edition. https://automotivesafetyconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BoA_2024.pdf

11. Seberíni, A., Lacová, Ž., Gubalová, J., Murray Svidroňová, M. (2024). The challenges of young Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia - labour market integration aspects. In: M. Murray Svidroňová (editor): Non-Governmental Organizations - Role and Performance in Turbulent Times. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1185487

12. Murray Svidroňová, M., Jakuš Muthová, N. (2024). Behavioral experiments in public sector. In 26th International Scientific Conference “Economic Competitiveness and Sustainability”, March 21–22, 2024, Brno, Czech Republic, príspevok v zborníku: https://doi.mendelu.cz/pdfs/doi/9900/07/1100.pdf

13. Lacová, Ž., Marasová, J. (2024). Le rôle des alliances universitaires européennes en tant que facteur d’attractivité du territoire – le cas d’EMERGE. Книги - Електронни издания - Издателство - Нов български университет

14. Seberini, A., Hronec, M., Tokovská, M. (2024). Demographic Analysis and Resource Allocation in Humanitarian Aid: A Case Study of Age-Specific Service Provision. Journal of Human Resource Management – HR Advances and Developments, 27(2), 169-182. https://doi.org/10.46287/DSAA7708

15. Murray Svidronova, M., Cole, D., Gogola, M., & Kozuń-Cieślak, G. B. (2024). Evidence-Based Public Policy: How to Reveal Preferences of Youth Regarding Housing and Urban Mobility?. Journal of Electrical Systems, 20(10s). https://journal.esrgroups.org/jes/article/view/6820

16. Murray Svidronova, M., Kascakova, A., & Krátky, B. (2024). Investigating the Relationship Between the World Giving Index and the Donations in Lions Clubs International Foundation. Institutiones Administrationis-J. Admin. Sci., 4, 74. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/isasjl4&div=9&id=&page=

17. Murray Svidroňová, M. (editor). (2024). Non-Governmental Organizations - Role and Performance in Turbulent Times. https://www.intechopen.com/books/1003676

1. Murray Svidroňová, M. (2025). Prezentácia „Preferencie vysokoškolákov v kontexte behaviorálnej ekonomiky v doprave“ na konferencii CYKLISTICKÁ DOPRAVA 2025. 11. december 2025.

2. Murray Svidroňová, M. (2025). Keynote prezentácia „Behavioral interventions in public sector – the role of NGOs in the design, implementation, monitoring and sustaining of behavioral experiments“ na Honors Council of the Illinois Region – Spring Symposium, 1. marec 2025, Illinois, USA.

3. Cole, D. (2024). Pozvaná prezentácia na vedeckej konferencii „Housing situation of students“, 17.10.2024, Varšava, Poľsko.

4. Gogola, M. (2024). Modelovanie dopytu cyklistov – príspevok prezentovaný na konferencii Cyklistická doprava 2024 Košice, 9-10.12.2024.

Panel at the 33rd NISPAcee Annual Conference, “Polycrisis and Multi-Level Governance: Impacts, Lessons Learned, Challenges and Opportunities”

Behavioural Science in the Public Sector – Conference Panel

The panel featured the following presentations:

1. Comparing the demographic shift to future expectations of university aged students throughout Slovakia – David Cole, Jolana Gubalová

2. Housing preferences of young people in Slovakia: Mária Murray Svidroňová, Nikoleta Jakuš Muthová

3. How differently do university students and professors perceive the weight of factors that influence the choice of mode of transport? Case study from 4 Slovak universities – Marián Gogola

4. Understanding Youth Perceptions of the Labour Market in Slovakia: A Behavioural Perspective - Žaneta Lacová, Andrea Seberíni

5. Employment preferences of university students: stay home or work abroad? – Matúš Kubák& Tamara Hrušovská

6. Resilient Preferences: The Limited Impact of Contrast Scenarios on Student Decision-Making – Martina Benzoni Balaz

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Mária Murray Svidroňová, PhD.

Research Team Members – Matej Bel University (UMB):

M. A. David Austin Cole, PhD.

Ing. Jolana Gubalová, PhD.

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Nikoleta Jakuš Muthová, PhD.

Ing. Žaneta Lacová, PhD.

PhDr. Andrea Seberíni, Ph.D.

Research Team Members – Comenius University Bratislava (UK):

Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Daniel Klimovský, PhD.

Ing., Dott.ssa Mag. Martina Benzoni Baláž, PhD.

Research Team Members – University of Žilina (UNIZA):

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Marián Gogola, PhD.

Research Team Members – Technical University of Košice (TUKE):

Assoc. Prof. Ing. Matúš Kubák, PhD.