The circular bioeconomy is the key tool for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Changes in agricultural production are crucial to its development. Farmers are not only responsible for biomass production but also account for approximately 13% of GHG emissions in the EU. This article addresses the following questions: (Q1) To what extent are farmers implementing the values and practices of the circular bioeconomy? (Q2) Are agricultural advisors promoting these values and practices? (Q3) What are the potential barriers preventing farmers from transitioning to a circular bioeconomy? The study was conducted among two groups. A CATI questionnaire survey was conducted with farmers, and in-depth interviews with agricultural advisors. Most farmers do not apply circular bioeconomy principles in their production practices. However, cluster analysis revealed variation: in addition to the disinterested mainstream group, a cluster of relatively affluent farmers was identified as more engaged in circular practices. The analysis of agricultural advisors’ attitudes revealed an insufficient level of engagement in promoting circular bioeconomy practices. It also indicated significant variation in the advisors’ values and attitudes, which may affect the type and quality of information they pass on to farmers. The study identified several barriers to the implementation of circular bioeconomy solutions, stemming from both farmers’ attitudes and institutional conditions.

Rural areas offer unique contexts for work–life balance (WLB) development due to distinct working conditions and employment structures. Employees who have access to flexible work arrangements, non-material bonuses, and peaceful workplaces are more productive (lower absenteeism, greater commitment). The aim of the study was to determine the aspects of support and types of WLB among employees from rural areas. Two analyses were conducted: PCA (principal component analysis) for the entire sample, and a fuzzy c-means cluster analysis for wage employees. Based on PCA, three aspects of WLB support were identified: leave, work, and work hygiene (regeneration). The use of emergency and family leave dominated practices supporting WLB among employees in rural areas. The respondents did not attach much importance to social benefits improving work hygiene; moreover, the work hygiene aspect was not applied in parallel with other aspects of WLB support (leave, work). As a result of clustering the respondents’ answers, four employee types were identified based on WLB assessment, demographic characteristics, and work-related factors. Clustering revealed a clear correlation between WLB assessment and employee age and gender. The highest scores in terms of the quality of work–life balance were recorded among middle-aged men (type 4). Younger people, especially women (type 1), rated their WLB as moderately good. Regardless of age and gender, as stress levels increased and personal quality of life declined, thoughts about changing jobs intensified. Employee well-being significantly influences job retention intentions among rural workers. This study uniquely integrates multiple theoretical frameworks and employs principal component analysis and fuzzy c-means clustering to explore work–life balance among rural employees, a group seldom studied. By focusing on rural contexts and offering systemic, multi-domain insights, the findings advance WLB theory and practice and provide recommendations for employers and policymakers.

Objective: The article aimed to identify the dimensions and trajectories of work-life balance (WLB) across the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary) during the period 2008-2022. We posed two research questions: which factors are most responsible for WLB and how do the dimensions of WLB evolve over time among the V4 countries? Research Design & Methods: We employed a quantitative and interpretative approach. Based on statistical data, we identified WLB dimensions in the multiple factor analysis (MFA). The estimated factor values formed the basis for analysing the trajectories of changes in three indices (WORK, TIME, FAMILY) for each of the V4 countries over the 2009-2022 period. Findings: Among the three WLB dimensions, WORK was the most explanatory for WLB. The eigenvalue of the first dimension explained 32% of the total variance, the second dimension eigenvalue contributed 26% of the variance, and the third extracted dimension explained 15% of the total variance. We demonstrated the status of three WLB dimensions over a period of 14 years across the V4 countries. We found the greatest stabilization of WLB in the FAMILY dimension, while the WORK dimension distinctly differentiated the V4 countries. Although all V4 countries showed an increasing trend in the WORK index alongside a decrease in the TIME index, they clearly followed different paths in the development of WLB, including the pursuit of diversification (WORK), similarity (FAMILY), and the maintenance of stationarity (TIME). Implications & Recommendations: The findings may be valuable for planning future strategies aimed at enhancing the employees’ WLB. Further research should focus, among other aspects, on the observation of WLB dimensions and the assessment of the trajectories identified in the article, including the impact of the V4 countries’ decisions on the development of work-life balance policies. Contribution & Value Added: The number of studies on WLB has increased significantly over the past ten years, revealing the complexity of the phenomena and presenting diverse research perspectives. The proposed study approach based on multiple-factor analysis allowed us to capture the state of WLB in terms of its dimensions (WORK, TIME, FAMILY) and its dynamics over a longer time frame (14 years) in countries originating from the same political-economic system. The differences identified at this level have led to the conclusion that the state of WLB of employees from the V4 countries is only partly determined by systemic-historical conditions. WLB in the V4 countries reveals national-level differences and prompts further comparative research.

Celem artykułu jest ocena potencjalnego wpływu Programu Fundusze Europejskie na Infrastrukturę, Klimat i Środowisko 2021–2027 (Program Feniks) na przestrzenne uwarunkowania sytuacji osób starszych w Polsce, w szczególności w świetle adaptacji do zmian klimatu. Analiza skupia się na priorytetach programu, które mogą skutecznie przeciwdziałać instytucjonalnej dyskryminacji osób starszych oraz minimalizować ryzyko wynikające z negatywnych skutków zmian klimatu dla tej grupy demograficznej. W badaniu zastosowano podejście mieszane, łączące ilościową analizę danych demograficznych, pochodzących m.in. z Eurostatu i GUS (okres: 2002–2022), z jakościową oceną dokumentów strategicznych. Badanie koncentruje się na ocenie regionalnych różnic w procesie starzenia się oraz na skuteczności priorytetów programu Feniks w radzeniu sobie z tymi różnicami. W analizie demograficznej porównano sytuację między wszystkimi krajami UE oraz przeanalizowano różnice regionalne między województwami w Polsce. Ze względu na ogólnokrajowy charakter programu, jego potencjalny wpływ oceniono w skali całego kraju. Skoncentrowanie programu na modernizacji energetycznej, gospodarce wodnej oraz zielonej infrastrukturze ma potencjał, by znacząco poprawić warunki życia osób starszych oraz przeciwdziałać negatywnym skutkom zmian klimatycznych. Kluczowe są inwestycje w energooszczędne budynki, miejskie projekty adaptacyjne oraz inicjatywy związane z gospodarką o obiegu zamkniętym. Program nadaje priorytet słabiej rozwiniętym regionom oraz obszarom miejskim, które są najbardziej dotknięte wyzwaniami związanymi ze starzeniem się społeczeństwa i zmianami klimatu. Program Feniks jest dobrze przygotowany do poprawy jakości życia starzejącego się społeczeństwa w Polsce, koncentrując się na kluczowych wyzwaniach infrastrukturalnych i środowiskowych. W szczególności istotne są działania skierowane na obszary zurbanizowane, co ma duże znaczenie, biorąc pod uwagę rosnącą liczbę osób starszych w miastach. Sukces tych inicjatyw zależy jednak od skutecznego wdrożenia oraz stałego monitorowania, by zapewnić ich inkluzywność i zrównoważony rozwój. Przyszłe badania powinny skupić się na długoterminowych efektach projektów oraz rozważyć dodatkowe środki wspierające osoby starsze w adaptacji do zmian klimatu.