# The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Perception of Globalization and Consumer Behavior
###### Abstract  
The main purpose of this article was to identify the impacts of globalization and information and communication technologies on the consumer behavior of a young population aged 18-34 before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted using the CAWI (computer-assisted web interview) method using convenient sampling involving students of the University of Warsaw. The survey was carried out in three stages: in March 2020, December 2020 and November 2021. The last cycle of research enabled the authors to examine the changes in consumer behavior trends nearly two years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland and compare them with the tendencies that could be observed in March 2020 and December 2020. The findings from all survey questionnaires indicate that the behavior of respondents is generally consistent with consumer trends established and described in several reports concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's perception of globalization and consumer behavior. The main observation in terms of online purchases was that the growth itself was not very significant, but the frequency of purchases over the Internet increased. A similar trend could be observed in the case of using social media. Research of this scope was carried out in Poland for the first time, which proves the originality and value of this paper. consumer behaviour; globalization; COVID-19 pandemic 2022020202022  
can act as catalysts for sustainable development, countries that do not have access to them are at risk of being left behind\" [7]. As mentioned above, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound influence on the globalization processes and their perceptions by populations in different countries. Countries and specific regions experience difficulties in managing their business operations, and there are delays and stoppages in the functioning of supply chains. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON], \"transport being limited and even restricted among countries has further slowed global economic activities\". Furthermore, \"panic among consumers and firms has distorted usual consumption patterns and created market anomalies\" and \"global financial markets have also been responsive to the changes and global stock indices have plunged\" [8]. However, even though \"due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most economic sectors have been affected\" [8; 9], and, according to [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON] [10], \"many businesses have not been able to continue their activities as before,\" the demand for goods and services remained at a consistently high level. Consumers may avoid traditional ways of shopping, but they still purchase items; they just tend to do it online. In _COVID-19 and E-Commerce: A Global Review_, by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of the eTrade for All initiative, we may read that even though \"restrictions on movement and other interventions to protect public health have reduced economic activity in most sectors and most countries, affecting production, distribution and consumption\" [11], there were sectors that experienced accelerated growth. Thus, \"amid slowing economic activity, COVID-19 has led to a surge in e-commerce and accelerated digital transformation\" [12]. Such tendencies could be observed around the world. They appeared to increase the interdependence and integration of states and contributed to the creation of a global society, which was further accelerated by the application and diffusion of information technologies. Globalization processes also led to economic and social changes. Together with the flow of goods, capital and information, one might notice the trends related to the homogenization of cultures around the world. In addition, globalization was seen as a tendency in the world economy, politics, demography, social life and culture that led to popularizing similar phenomena, and this was happening despite geographical and physical distance.